NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (Interstat) — Darin Smith led Central Connecticut to an 80-78 victory over Mercyhurst in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Thursday night at William H. Detrick Gymnasium.

The Blue Devils, who improved to 17-11, held off a second-half surge from the Lakers. Mercyhurst, now 14-16, trailed 34-30 at halftime but scored 48 points after intermission to push the game to the wire. Central Connecticut matched the intensity with 46 second-half points to secure the win in front of 914 fans. The result avenged a January loss to the Lakers. The total score surpassed the over/under line of 140.