Robby Ptacek scored 21 points and Central Connecticut State used a huge free throw advantage to defeat Fairleigh Dickinson 69-63 Saturday in Northeast Conference play.
The Blue Devils (10-10, 7-3), down 27-26 at halftime, had three other players in double figures. Kyle Vinales scored 17, Ken Horton added 12 and David Simmons 10.
For Fairleigh Dickinson (2-19, 1-9), George Goode led four other teammates in double figures with 17 points. Kinu Rochford came off the bench to score 13 points and Briahn Smith added 12. Mathias Seilund and Lonnie Robinson scored 11 and 10 points, respectively.
The Knights closed within 61-56 with 43 seconds left, but CCSU hit six straight free throws - four by Vinales, whose layup with nine seconds left clinched it.
CCSU hit 25 of 28 free throws while Fairleigh Dickinson was 12 for 19. Vinales went 8 for 8 at the line, Ptacek 8 for 10.
