NEW BRITAIN, Conn. -- Central Connecticut is streaking into the NCAA Tournament.

Junior guard Damian Battles tied his career high with 27 points as Central Connecticut ran the nation's longest winning streak to 19 games with a 78-71 victory over Quinnipiac in the Northeast Conference championship Wednesday night.

The Blue Devils (27-4) advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years.

As the buzzer sounded, the capacity crowd of more than 3,200 erupted, and students swarmed the court.

"I don't remember this place being like this ever," coach Howie Dickenman said. "This was an event tonight, an event that the whole city rallied around."

John Alexander scored 14 points, and Ron Robinson added 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Blue Devils.

"I was just trying to breathe, it was suffocating in there," said Corsley Edwards, who had 11 points and eight rebounds for the Blue Devils.

Rob Monroe led Quinnipiac (14-16) with 17 points. Jeremy Bishop, the nation's leading rebounder, added 14 points and 12 rebounds.