Darin Smith Jr.’s 17 points helped Central Connecticut State defeat Fairleigh Dickinson 63-57 in a Northeast Conference game on Saturday at Teaneck, N.J.
Smith shot 2 of 11 from the field and went 13 for 13 from the line for the Blue Devils (15-10, 9-5 NEC). Jay Rodgers scored 15 points while going 6 of 10 from the field. Melo Sanchez went 4 of 10 from the field to finish with 11 points.
Central, which has already clinched a conference tournament berth and is currently in second place, was able to close the gap on front running Long Island, which lost at New Haven. There are four regular-season games left for the Blue Devils. Arthur Cox finished with 16 points and eight rebounds for the Knights (10-17, 7-7).
New Haven 55, Long Island University 52: At West Haven, Jabri Fitzpatrick scored 19 points as New Haven pulled off the NEC upset over the first-place Sharks. Malachi Davis hit a 3-pointer for New Haven to pull to 53-52 with 56 seconds left. Fitzpatrick and Najimi George each spit a pair of free throws to seal it for the Chargers.
Fitzpatrick shot 6 for 16 (0 for 3 from 3-point range) and 7 of 9 from the free-throw line George scored 11 points and added eight rebounds. Andre Pasha added nine points for the Chargers (11-15, 6-7 Northeast Conference).
Greg Gordon led the way for the Sharks (17-9, 11-2) with 22 points and six rebounds.
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