Central Connecticut Edges Mercyhurst in Close Contest
Thursday, February 26, 2026, 7:00 PM ET · Detrick Gymnasium
Central Connecticut Blue Devils 80, Mercyhurst Lakers 78, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Mercyhurst Lakers vs Central Connecticut Blue Devils?
Central Connecticut Blue Devils beat Mercyhurst Lakers 80-78 at Detrick Gymnasium on February 26, 2026.
Who was favored in Mercyhurst Lakers vs Central Connecticut Blue Devils?
Central Connecticut Blue Devils were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -185 (about 65% implied). The favorite won.
In a thrilling matchup, the Central Connecticut Blue Devils narrowly defeated the Mercyhurst Lakers 80-78 at Detrick Gymnasium on February 27, 2026. This game was particularly significant as it showcased the competitive spirit of both teams, with Central Connecticut improving their record to 18-11 while Mercyhurst fell to 14-17.
Central Connecticut entered the game with a home record of 3-2 in their last five home games and a recent overall record of 6-4 in their last ten. However, they were on a one-game losing streak, having lost to the Chicago State Cougars 51-70 just days prior. Despite this setback, the Blue Devils averaged 68.1 points scored and allowed 68.6 points in their last ten games, indicating a balanced but challenging stretch.
On the other side, Mercyhurst was also coming off a win, having defeated the Long Island University Sharks 91-83 in their previous outing. Their recent form showed a record of 6-4 over the last ten games, with an average of 73.8 points scored and 69.2 points allowed. They had a stronger away record of 4-1 in their last five away games, which contributed to their confidence heading into this contest.
In terms of previous meetings, Central Connecticut had a slight edge with a 2-1 record against Mercyhurst in their last three encounters. The most recent matchup prior to this game was on January 19, 2026, where Central Connecticut lost 61-79 away. However, they had previously won two meetings in the 2025 season, which likely bolstered their morale.
The game was closely contested throughout, with both teams exchanging leads and showcasing their offensive capabilities. Key moments included free throws from players like Jay Rodgers and Bernie Blunt III, who contributed crucial points in the final minutes. In the closing moments, Blunt III hit a significant three-pointer, bringing the Lakers within two points at 80-78, but it was not enough to secure a comeback.
The odds for the game, provided by DraftKings, had Central Connecticut favored by 3.5 points, with a total set at 141.5. This reflected the expectations of a competitive game, and the final score fell within the projected range, highlighting the accuracy of market predictions.
Conditions in the gym were typical for a late February evening, with both teams eager to capitalize on their home-court advantages and recent form. Fans witnessed a high-energy game filled with strategic plays and intense moments, showcasing the skills and determination of both squads.
As the season progresses, Central Connecticut will look to build on this victory, while Mercyhurst will aim to regroup and find consistency in their game. The close scoreline indicates that both teams are capable of competing at a high level, making future matchups between them highly anticipated.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | CCSU -3.5 | 141.5 o -105 / u -115 | Mercyhurst Lakers +154 · Central Connecticut Blue Devils -185 |
Leaders
- PointsDarin Smith Jr.24Central Connecticut Blue Devils
- AssistsJay Rodgers7Central Connecticut Blue Devils
- ReboundsMax Frazier13Central Connecticut Blue Devils
- PointsQadir Martin18Mercyhurst Lakers
- AssistsJake Lemelman6Mercyhurst Lakers
- ReboundsQadir Martin5Mercyhurst Lakers
Recent form
Central Connecticut Blue Devils
Last 10: 6-4Streak L168.1 scored · 68.6 allowed per game3-2 at home
- L51-70at Chicago State CougarsFeb 21
- W78-77vs Le Moyne DolphinsFeb 20
- W63-57at Fairleigh Dickinson KnightsFeb 14
- W81-76at New Haven ChargersFeb 13
- W84-67vs Wagner SeahawksFeb 7
- W78-67vs Chicago State CougarsFeb 6
- L59-80vs Long Island University SharksJan 31
- W62-55at Wagner SeahawksJan 30
- L59-61at Stonehill SkyhawksJan 27
- L66-76vs Fairleigh Dickinson KnightsJan 24
Mercyhurst Lakers
Last 10: 6-4Streak W173.8 scored · 69.2 allowed per game2-3 away
- W91-83vs Long Island University SharksFeb 21
- L80-83vs Wagner SeahawksFeb 20
- W94-79at Saint Francis Red WolvesFeb 14
- L57-58at Le Moyne DolphinsFeb 13
- L52-55at Fairleigh Dickinson KnightsFeb 7
- W98-89vs Saint Francis Red WolvesFeb 6
- L74-78at Chicago State CougarsJan 31
- W70-51vs New Haven ChargersJan 30
- W61-59vs Chicago State CougarsJan 25
- W61-57at New Haven ChargersJan 23
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Island University | 24-11 | - | 15-3 |
| Central Connecticut | 18-12 | 3 | 12-6 |
| Mercyhurst | 17-17 | 5 | 10-8 |
| Le Moyne | 15-17 | 5 | 10-8 |
| New Haven | 14-17 | 6 | 9-9 |
| Wagner | 14-17 | 7 | 8-10 |
| Stonehill | 12-21 | 7 | 8-10 |
| Fairleigh Dickinson | 11-21 | 7 | 8-10 |
| Saint Francis | 7-24 | 10 | 5-13 |
| Chicago State | 7-25 | 10 | 5-13 |
Box score
| Stat | Mercyhurst Lakers | Central Connecticut Blue Devils |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 31-62 | 28-51 |
| Field goal % | 50 | 55 |
| Three-pointers | 4-17 | 4-10 |
| Three-point % | 24 | 40 |
| Free throws | 12-14 | 20-28 |
| Free throw % | 86 | 71 |
| Rebounds | 28 | 30 |
| Offensive rebounds | 7 | 6 |
| Defensive rebounds | 21 | 24 |
| Assists | 10 | 12 |
| Steals | 6 | 3 |
| Blocks | 2 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 7 | 9 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 12 | 7 |
| Fast-break points | 11 | 8 |
| Points in the paint | 48 | 40 |
| Fouls | 21 | 13 |
| Largest lead | 6 | 6 |
| Lead changes | 12 | 12 |
| Time in front | 35 | 51 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half52-46Bernie Blunt III makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half52-48Jay Rodgers makes 18-foot jumper
- 2nd Half52-49Jayden Mott makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half54-49Deshaun Jackson Jr. makes 8-foot jumper
- 2nd Half54-51Darin Smith Jr. makes 11-foot jumper (Jay Rodgers assists)
- 2nd Half56-51Deshaun Jackson Jr. makes 11-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half56-53Jay Rodgers makes 18-foot jumper
- 2nd Half58-53Mykolas Ivanauskas makes 9-foot jumper (Deshaun Jackson Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half58-56Melo Sanchez makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jay Rodgers assists)
- 2nd Half58-57Darin Smith Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half58-58Darin Smith Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-60Jay Rodgers makes driving layup
- 2nd Half59-60Qadir Martin makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-60Qadir Martin makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-62Jay Rodgers makes driving layup
- 2nd Half60-63Daniel James makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half61-63Qadir Martin makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-63Qadir Martin makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half62-65Max Frazier makes layup
- 2nd Half64-65Deshaun Jackson Jr. makes layup
- 2nd Half64-67Max Frazier makes 0-foot tip in dunk
- 2nd Half66-67Jake Lemelman makes driving layup
- 2nd Half66-69Max Frazier makes 3-foot alley oop dunk (Jay Rodgers assists)
- 2nd Half68-69Qadir Martin makes layup (Sean Lang assists)
- 2nd Half68-70Darin Smith Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half68-71Darin Smith Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half70-71Bernie Blunt III makes 11-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half70-72Darin Smith Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half70-73Darin Smith Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half70-75Darin Smith Jr. makes layup
- 2nd Half70-76James Jones makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-76Qadir Martin makes layup (Jake Lemelman assists)
- 2nd Half72-77Jay Rodgers makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half72-78Jay Rodgers makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half73-78Bernie Blunt III makes free throw 1 of 3
- 2nd Half74-78Bernie Blunt III makes free throw 2 of 3
- 2nd Half75-78Bernie Blunt III makes free throw 3 of 3
- 2nd Half75-79Darin Smith Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half75-80Darin Smith Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half78-80Bernie Blunt III makes 32-foot three point jumper
Win probability
Above the line favours Central Connecticut Blue Devils, below favours Mercyhurst Lakers.
Venue
- Detrick GymnasiumNew Britain, CT
- Attendance914
- OfficialsBrian O'Connell, Michael Kitts, Vasili Mallios
Elsewhere
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- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond