NEW BRITAIN, CT – The University of Delaware men’s basketball squad came out on the short end of close one again Wednesday night as the Blue Hens remained winless on the season with a 63-60 setback to host Central Connecticut State at Detrick Gymnasium.

Central Connecticut guard Danny Powell converted three free throws in the final five seconds of the game as the Blue Devils (3-5) helped continue Delaware’s frustrations.

The Blue Hens (0-7), off to an 0-7 start for the first time since the 1956-57 season, jumped out to their first halftime lead of the season and led by as much as seven points in the second half before seeing the lead slip away. Three of the Hens losses, including the last two, have now been decided by three points or less.

With the score tied at 60-60, Central Connecticut had several chances to win the game from the field in the final 30 seconds. Delaware’s Herb Courtney blocked a shot by Tristan Blackwood out of bounds with 26 seconds remaining and the rebound on a shot by Javier Mojica slipped out of Courtney’s hands and out of bounds with 16 seconds left. After CCSU inbounded the ball, Powell drove down the right baseline and was fouled by Darrell Johnson with 4.4 seconds left.

After Powell (11 points) converted the first free throw, he missed on the second but Mojica tipped the ball back out to him and he was fouled again. This time Powell hit both free throws with 2.2 seconds left to up the lead to 63-60. Delaware got one more possession, but Sam McMahon couldn’t find the handle on a halfcourt pass just before the final buzzer.

“If you want to win on the road, there are certain things you have to do well,” said Delaware head coach Monté Ross. “You have to take care of the ball, you have to play solid defense, and you have to hit your free throws. We did two of the three very well tonight. It’s just disheartening to play the way we did and not come away with a win. We got some good contributions from some other guys tonight, but late in the game we just couldn’t get a stop when we needed one.”

Freshman point guard Brian Johnson (at right) led the Hens with 14 points, including three three pointers, and added four assists while Zaire Taylor scored 11 points, Darrell Johnson chipped in with 10 points, and Courtney added seven points, eight rebounds, and three blocked shots. Courtney was 0 for 5 from the foul line as the Blue Hens went 8 of 17 from the line as a team for the game. The Hens turned the ball over just 14 times and shot 52.3 percent from the field, hitting 23 of 44 field goals for the game.

Central Connecticut, which held a commanding 35-24 advantage on the boards, got 19 points, including four three-pointers, from Blackwood while Mojica added 15 points and nine rebounds, Powell added 11 points, and Obie Nwadike had 10 points and 11 rebounds.

After leading 28-24 at the half, in part thanks to a 11-2 start to open the game, Delaware extended the lead to seven points at 40-33 with 14:37 left on three-pointer by Brian Johnson. But Central Connecticut answered with eight straight points to take its first lead of the game at 41-40 with 12:37 remaining. The lead changed hands several times before the scored was knotted at 60-60 with 1:52 left.

Delaware will take a two-week break for final examinations and return to action to open Colonial Athletic Association play Dec. 20 at Virginia Commonwealth.

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