Emmitsburg, Md. (January 8, 2015)--Chris Martin scored a career-high 22 points to lead Mount St. Mary's to an 82-51 win over visiting Central Connecticut State on Thursday night at Knott Arena.  The Mountaineers scored the first 10 points of the game and never trailed in the contest.

The Mount's Andrew Smeathers connected on a three-pointer on the Mount's first possession to kick start the 10-0 run to start the game.  Gregory Graves scored in the paint, and Junior Robinson closed out the run with a pair of free throws and a long three-pointer.

The Blue Devils (2-14, 0-3 NEC) scored the next six points, but the Mount (5-9, 1-2 NEC) countered with a 14-to-4 run to take a 24-10 advantage midway through the first half.

Mount St. Mary's extended the lead to 36-17 on consecutive steals and breakaway baskets with 5:21 left in the half.  Martin had the first steal and basket, and Byron Ashe added a steal and a breakaway dunk on the next possession to give the Mount a 19-point advantage.  Ashe closed the half with a floater from the left baseline at the buzzer for a 42-23 lead at the break.

The Mount opened the second half with a 10-2 spurt and to coast to the victory.  The biggest lead of the game came on a Robinson drive that pushed the Mount to a 75-39 advantage with 7:38 left in the game.

Martin went 8-of-14 from the field and was 4-for-8 from three-point range for his career-high 22 points.  His previous career-high was 19 points at Notre Dame earlier this season.  Ashe added 11 points and three assists, Smeathers had 10 points and six rebounds, and Robinson tallied 10 points and five assists in the win.

Faronte Drakeford led CCSU with 12 points and a game-high 17 rebounds while Kevin Seymour finished with seven points and seven assists.

The Mount was efficient on offense in the game, shooting 50.8 percent from the field while committing just four turnovers.  CCSU shot 31.6 percent in the loss with 14 turnovers.

The Mountaineers return to action on Saturday, January 10, when NEC leader St. Francis Brooklyn visits Knott Arena for a 2:00 p.m. matchup.