C Connecticut defeats Stonehill 76-69
Stonehill Falls Short at C Connecticut
The C Connecticut Huskies hosted the visiting Stonehill Seahawks in a crucial conference matchup on Saturday night, and it was a homecoming victory they would cherish.
With a strong showing from their crowd, the Huskies took an early lead, outscoring the Seahawks 31-24 at halftime. But it wasn't just the scoreboard that had fans excited - C Connecticut's balanced attack featured four players in double figures, including a 22-point outing from senior Darin Smith Jr.
Smith Jr. was nearly unstoppable, connecting on 1-of-4 three-point attempts while shooting an impressive 53.8% from the field. He also pulled down seven rebounds and dished out six assists to lead his team to a 7-point victory.
Max Frazier chipped in with seven rebounds and six points, while Jay Rodgers provided five assists and 21 points off the bench. The Huskies' bench played a key role in the win, helping to outscore Stonehill's reserves by nine points.
On the other hand, Davante Hackett led Stonehill with 19 points, but the Seahawks struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 2-of-6 three-point attempts. They also committed 13 turnovers, which C Connecticut capitalized on for a big portion of their scoring output.
In terms of advanced statistics, C Connecticut's free throw shooting was nearly flawless, going 20-for-24 from the line. Their true shooting percentage sat at an impressive 66.0%, while the Seahawks struggled with eFG% and True Shooting%.
The Huskies' 76-point win marked their first conference victory this season, and it sets them up nicely for a strong second half of the year.
Box Score
C Connecticut (HOME)
* Points: Darin Smith Jr. - 22
* Rebounds: Max Frazier - 7
* Assists: Jay Rodgers - 6
* Field Goals: 25/47 (53.0%)
* 3-Point FG: 6/14 (43.0%)
Stonehill (AWAY)
* Points: Davante Hackett - 19
* Rebounds: Raymond Espinal-Guzman - 10
* Assists: Rex Sunderland - 5
* Field Goals: 27/60 (45.0%)
* 3-Point FG: 8/22 (36.0%)
The Huskies' home win was a welcome change of pace, and it will be exciting to see how their team responds in the coming weeks.
Next Game
C Connecticut travels to Fitchburg State on Wednesday to take on the Falcons.