The men’s basketball team closed out a pivotal NEC homestand with a mix of grit and celebration, dropping a tight contest to the Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) Blue Devils before rebounding with a wire-to-wire senior day victory at home over Long Island University (LIU).
Playing the number two team then followed with the number one team in the NEC was no easy task for the Chargers.
The week opened with a sellout crowd for Thursday’s showdown against CCSU, where the Chargers found themselves in a back-and-forth battle that stayed competitive from start to finish. The Blue Devils leaned heavily on Darin Smith Jr., who delivered a standout performance to pace CCSU, but New Haven refused to let the game slip away.
Despite trailing by multiple possessions early, the Chargers settled in and chipped away throughout the night. Jabri Fitzpatrick led the offense with 20 points and six assists, controlling tempo and creating opportunities as New Haven pushed back in the second half. Maison Adeleye added a season-high 15 points and three steals, while Stefano Faloppa anchored the glass. New Haven shot efficiently from the field and nearly perfect at the free-throw line, but CCSU’s first-half edge proved just enough in an 81-76 loss.
Two days later, the tone inside the Hazell Center shifted as the Chargers honored three seniors: Faloppa, Adeleye and Kyle Kearson. From the opening tip, New Haven dictated pace against LIU, building an early lead and never surrendering it.
The Chargers executed on both ends, limiting LIU’s rhythm while making timely plays offensively. Fitzpatrick once again set the tone, finishing with 19 points and knocking down crucial free throws late to keep the lead. The team made 50% of shots behind the arc on the night. Najimi George provided a strong two-way presence with 11 points and eight rebounds and Andre Pasha chipped in nine points as New Haven held off a late push to secure the 55-52 victory.
The win snapped LIU’s momentum– coming off a six game win streak and having not lost since the calendar turned to a new year. The upset capped a memorable senior day in front of an energized home crowd, showcasing the resilience and leadership that has defined the Chargers throughout NEC play.
With the split, New Haven heads into the final stretch of the regular season with an 11-15 overall record and 6-7 in conference play. The Chargers will host the Stonehill College Skyhawks on Thursday for an NEC matchup. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. in The Hazell Center and will be streamed on NEC Front Row. For more information visit NewHavenChargers.com
