SPRINGFIELD - The Northampton boys basketball team got the win it was looking for.

Ellis Cooper and Jesse Coulon combined for 34 second-half points as the Blue Devils defeated Central 72-69 Monday night.

"This gives us confidence," Coulon said. "This is where we need to be. This is our first close win against a good team in a while. It's huge."

Both teams are now 4-1. Central beat Northampton in the tournament sectional semifinals last season. The Blue Devils' only loss this season came to Nazareth Regional of New York in the East Longmeadow Spartan Tournament.

"We felt we haven't had any top-notch victories under our belt and they haven't had any top-notch victories under their belt," Northampton coach Rey Harp said. "We knew they would be just as hungry as we were to establish ourselves in this kind of game."

Cooper finished with a team-high 24 points, 18 in the second half. Coulon finished with 18, 16 in the second half.

"This was our biggest" win, Cooper said. "We have more to come but for right now this is our biggest and it will hopefully help us out the rest of the season with pressure and finishing games out strong."

The Blue Devils led by eight three times in the first half and were ahead 48-43 entering the fourth. Central, though, opened with two 3-pointers, one by Victor Aytche (18 points) and the other by Jordan Smith to give Central the lead for the first time.

"We have an experienced squad," Coulon said. "Whenever someone makes a run at us we can stop them and come back."

The lead changed seven times and was tied four times in the fourth.

With the game tied for the last time at 67-67, Cooper sank two free throws with one minute, five seconds left to give Northampton a 69-67 lead.

Central tuned the ball over on its next possession and Cooper was eventually fouled. The senior missed the first but Hamp got the offensive rebound. Coulon was then fouled and hit both free throws with 21 seconds left for a 71-67 lead.

Central scored a quick basket with 14 seconds left but the Blue Devils ran 11 seconds off the clock and Pat Harrington sank one free throw with two seconds left.

Harrington missed the second and time ran out as the ball bounced out of bounds.

"I guess I'm good under pressure," said Cooper, who was 6-for-13 from the line. "I'm going to keep working hard to make all the free throws."

Northampton outrebounded Central in the first half and held the Golden Eagles to a season-low 21 points on five field goals.

"It was a great defensive first half," Harp said. "We're proud of our defense."

While Cooper and Coulon exploded in the second half, their teammates stepped up in the first half.

Jake Konowitch scored six of his eight points while Jarrod Neumann (four points) and Jaron Kastner (four) scored all their points before halftime. Jake Laga (seven points) chipped in with five first-half points.

"We knew coming into the season those guys will be there for us," Cooper said.

Jaylen Brantley scored a game-high 26 points, including 13 from the free throw line, for Central. Northampton's defense did a great job on Smith, who finished with six points.

The Golden Eagles were playing their fifth game in 10 days.

Central coach Mike Labrie said of Northampton, "They're a veteran team, senior laden. They deserved the win. Good win for them."

Mike Moran can be reached at mmoran@gazettenet.com.