BRIDGEPORT — They are still learning things the hard way, such as how to finish games and steal victory from the jaws of defeat. But until Ludlowe can figure those things out, the losses, and the disappointment, are going to continue.

Under the bright lights and the big stage of the Webster Bank Arena and the fourth annual MLK Classic on Monday morning, Ludlowe and Central went back and forth for three quarters as the Falcons looked to finally end a season-long nine-game losing string. Over the final eight minutes, however, when experience reigns supreme, it was the Hilltoppers who made their defensive stops, hit their free throws and kept Ludlowe winless, taking a 61-51 victory.

“A lot of times this year, we’ve beaten ourselves and I thought we did that again today,” said Ludlowe coach John Dailey, whose team fell to 0-10. “Missed layups, careless passes and Central turned it up a notch (defensively), they put on a press, which we’ve had trouble with this year. We didn’t get a lot of clean looks in the second half, just really played some careless basketball at times and you can’t beat anyone that way.”

Central improved to 5-2, bouncing back after a tough final-second loss to Warde on Friday. Ra’Quan Rilley scored 20 points to lead the Hilltoppers and earn the game’s MVP award.

“We had to slow it down and keep rotating the ball and that’s what we did and we got the victory,” Rilley said. “It was much different than the other game (against Warde). We were too fast in that game.”

Raj Walker had 14 points, Zack William had 13 and DJ Fulton had 11 for Central. Ty Stapleton scored 14 to lead Ludlowe with Cooper Nielsen adding 13 and James Bourque with 11.

Maybe it was because of the 11 a.m. start time, but both the Falcons and the Hilltoppers kind of sleepwalked through the first half, heading to the locker room tied at 22. Rilley had seven and Nielsen scoring eight for Ludlowe. Walker scored nine of his 14 points in the third quarter as Central inched in front 33-29 and then Rilley came alive, scoring 13 points in the fourth quarter.

“It’s very difficult with him because he’s aggressive and you want to tell him to slow it up sometimes but then you don’t want to take his aggressiveness away,” Central coach Barry McLeod said. “He plays hard all the time and he made some big shots when we needed them.”

Along with Rilley, the Hilltoppers’ defense got more aggressive, forcing the Falcons into several ill-advised turnovers.

“We picked it up, they made some turnovers, we made a few shots and it’s always easier when you make your foul shots,” McLeod said, as Central made 7 of 9 free throws over the final 2:35. “We turned it up a little bit in the second half, we changed defenses and made them turn the ball over a few times.”

Leading just 36-33 with 6:19 to play, Central put together a 14-5 run over the next two-plus minutes to take a 50-38 lead and never look back.

“There were just too many turnovers in the second half and the defensive assignments, things that we did well in the first half, we stopped doing in the second half,” Dailey said. “We gave up 40 points in the second half and that’s too much for us.”

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Central’s Ra’Quan Rilley. The 6-foot-1 senior scored 13 of his game high 20 points in the fourth quarter as the Hilltoppers slowly pulled away.

QUOTABLE

“We did enough to be tied at the half and then a careless pass here, a missed layup there, they score and all of a sudden the momentum swings their way. And when the momentum swings in the opponents’ favor, we don’t seem to punch back.” — Ludlowe coach John Dailey

celsberry@ctpost.com

CENTRAL 61, LUDLOWE 51

LUDLOWE (0-10, 0-5 FCIAC)

Jeff Meyers 0 1-2 1, Jake Northrup2 0-0 4, Justin Schiller 0 0-0 0, Jackson Began 0 0-0 0, Ian Bentley 2 0-0 4, Josh Evans 0 0-0 0, James Bourque 5 1-1 11, Cooper Nielsen 3 6-6 13, Christian Peterson 2 0-0 4, Ty Stapleton 4 5-6 14, Jadyn Tabois 0 0-0 0, Michael Bourque 0 0-0 0. Totals: 18 13-15 51

CENTRAL (5-2, 4-1)

Fab Agramonte 0 1-2 1, Zach William 4 5-8 13, Travis Griffins 0 0-0 0, TyQuan Fleming 0 0-0 0, Darius Washington 1 0-0 2, Ra’Quan Rilley 8 3-4 20, Raj Walker 6 2-3 14, DJ Fulton 5 1-3 11. Totals: 24 12-20 61

LUDLOWE 12 10 7 22—51

CENTRAL11 11 11 28—61

3-point goals: Ludlowe—Stapleton, Nielsen; Central—Rilley. Fouled out: Ludlowe—Stapleton