LE MOYNE (6-11, 1-2) vs. Central Connecticut State University (9-7, 3-0)
Saturday, Jan. 19 - 7:00 p.m.
Detrick Gymnasium - New Britain, Connecticut
Video: NEC Front Row
Radio: FOX Sports 92.5 FM/1490 AM
Live Stats: www.ccsubluedevils.com
 
Syracuse, N.Y. – The Le Moyne men's basketball team looks to end a two-game skid when it visits Central Connecticut State on Friday evening.
 
The Blue Devils, who are the final remaining unbeaten team in conference play, were streaky during non-conference play but have turned it around in the NEC. CCSU lost four of its first five matchups this season. The Blue Devils then won their next two contests over Army West Point, which beat Le Moyne by 17 in December, and Holy Cross. CCSU went 3-3 the rest of the way, including wins over UMass Lowell, Fordham and St. Elizabeth.
 
Central Connecticut State couldn't have asked for a better start to its NEC schedule. The Blue Devils are undefeated through their first three games. CCSU downed Stonehill (74-59) on January 4 before beating Saint Francis (75-61) and Merrimack (75-70). Merrimack handed Le Moyne its first NEC loss on January 13.
 
The Blue Devils are looking for their first winning season since 2010-2011. CCSU went 7-9 during conference play last year. Central Connecticut State landed in second place in the NEC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll.
 
Forward Allen Jeanne-Rose leads the CCSU attack. The graduate student is averaging over 16 points on an impressive 58.3% from the field. He's also shooting over 40% from three, knocking down just around one per contest. Jeanne-Rose has scored 20+ in all three of the team's NEC games. He tops the team with 4.8 rebounds a matchup as well. Jeanne-Rose is in his first year with the program after transferring over from Fairfield.
 
Senior Jordan Jones is another option for the Blue Devils. The guard puts up over 12 points per game and nearly leads the team in assists. He had a season-high 22 points in CCSU's loss to Northeastern in December. Jones has been a dominant force on defense, snagging 2.2 steals per contest in 2023-24. It is his first year with the Blue Devils after transferring from Coker University in South Carolina.
 
Senior Kellen Amos is the third and final CCSU player averaging 10+ points. He scores nearly 12 points per contest and ranks second on the Blue Devils in blocks. Amos has two 20-point games since mid-December, including a strong performance in CCSU's opening conference matchup against Stonehill. He also averages 4.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists through 16 contests this season.
 
The Blue Devils have won five straight. Opponents are averaging under 62 points per game during the stretch. CCSU is 4-2 at home.
 
Le Moyne enters Friday's matchup in the midst of a two-game losing streak. The Dolphins are coming off a close 80-73 loss to Sacred Heart on Monday. Both of Le Moyne's conference losses were within seven points. The Dolphins' points total marked the 12th time the team eclipsed 70 points this season.
 
Guard Kaiyem Cleary extended his hot stretch against Sacred Heart. The graduate student had 19 points in the loss, his seventh consecutive game in double figures. Cleary also grabbed 11 rebounds, a season-high. He now leads Le Moyne averaging 14.2 points and 5.7 rebounds in 2023-24.
 
Senior Darrick Jones Jr. was effective in his latest game as well. The guard had 10 points and hit two three-pointers. Jones Jr. missed just one shot on the night. The effort was his fourth time reaching double figures this season.
 
Graduate student Mike DePersia was the Dolphins' best playmaker versus Sacred Heart. The guard had six assists for Le Moyne. It was the eighth time DePersia had five or more assists this year. He added seven points, four rebounds, and a team-leading three steals in the loss.
 
The Dolphins look to even their NEC record against CCSU before returning home this weekend. Le Moyne hosts Saint Francis on Sunday.