The only game in the region on Tuesday was a crossover contest between two in-state rivals, and the result was a bit of shocker:
BRIDGEPORT 87 SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT 80
24 hours after coming through with the key play in a win at Queens, Jesse Jones delivered in the clutch again, leading Bridgeport to an upset of Nutmeg State rival Southern Connecticut in New Haven, avenging an opening weekend home loss for the second straight season. A tie game at 63 with under 11 minutes to play, Jones connected on a huge 3-pointer, then answered a Southern lay-up with a 3-point play the hard way, and the Purple Knights held on down the stretch to win their second road game in as many nights. Jones finished with 15 points off the bench for Bridgeport, while Devon Elliott led the way with 27 points (5-7 from 3), seven rebounds and four steals. Montana Mayfield and Ernest Rouse each added 11 for the winners, while 6-9 newcomer Kyle Benjamin (eight points, six boards in a reserve role) made a key play in the waning moments, pulling down a huge offensive board that led to Rouse’s dagger three from the left-wing that gave the P-Knights some breathing room at 85-80 with 24.2 seconds left. Austin Carter registered 16 points (4-7 from beyond the arc) and four blocked shots for the Owls, who used a 14-0 first-half run to open up the only double-digit lead of the night at 24-14. After the hosts scored the first bucket of the second half to go up 45-38, Bridgeport set in motion a 21-7 spell, fueled by eight Elliott points, to go up 59-52. The hosts came as close as two points late but could never equalize. Michael Mallory (15 points, four assists) and Desmond Williams (12 points, seven caroms, five assists) combined for just 27 points in defeat, shooting far worse (combined 8-29 FG, 2-14 from deep) than they did in Saturday’s win at Bentley, when they amassed 83 points on 30-69 shooting and 13-30 from long range. The Purple Knights – who were playing their third game in four days – won the glass, 46-36. Amazingly, this is the ninth time in the last four years that these two non-conference opponents have matched up, and the fourth time in the last five regular-season meetings that Bridgeport has won at Moore Field House.
POLL POSITION
The new NABC/Division 2 Coaches’ Poll is out and St. Anselm continues its ascent, inching up a couple of spots to #7. Bentley and Southern Connecticut are receiving votes, while Augustana (SD) hangs on to #1.