Hurley, HC top off-target NU
WORCESTER -- John Hurley tied his career high with 18 points and four teammates finished in double figures as Holy Cross held off several Northeastern rallies on the way to an 82-76 victory at the Hart Center last night.
Holy Cross scored 10 straight points to build a 10-4 lead on the way to its sixth win in nine games.
Hurley, who was playing with a sprained ankle, and Nate Lufkin (14 points) scored all 10 points in the opening run, and after Northeastern (4-5) tied it at 36, Hurley connected on a jumper and a layup to give the Crusaders a 40-36 advantage at intermission.
"It was a tough loss," said NU coach Ron Everhart. "I thought our kids played hard. They gave a good effort. I thought Holy Cross played extremely well. They executed well. Down the stretch, we made some bad decisions in terms of shot selections."
What hurt Northeastern was the play of its star point guard, Jose Juan Barea, who scored 12 points but had one of the worst games of his collegiate career. Barea, who entered the game averaging 24 points, was 4 of 22 from the floor, including 1 of 8 from beyond the 3-point arc.
"I have never seen him miss that many short pull-up jump shots," said Everhart. "He had a few good looks. But you've got to credit the Holy Cross defense. They pressured him well and took him out of what he likes to do. It was a tough night for Jose. He hasn't played that poorly for us offensively in a long, long time."
Ralph Willard, the Holy Cross coach, was not happy with his team's performance.
"Defense defines who we are," said Willard, whose Crusaders are yielding an average of 56 points per game. "We did a good job on Barea, but you have to stop all their players. [Marcus] Barnes is averaging 17 and he got it."
Hurley agreed. "As a team, we played well offensively," he said, "but I think we could have done better defensively. That's where we hang our hat. We've got to do better."
Holy Cross quickly stretched its lead to 15 in the second half, with Lufkin and Hurley, along with Torey Thomas (12 points), increasing the advantage to 53-38. Sophomore Adrian Martinez led the Huskies back into it, scoring 11 straight points. NU closed within 2, 59-57, when Shawn James (20 points) connected on a pair of free throws and Barea scored on a fast-break layup. But last week's Patriot League Player of the Week Keith Simmons (12 points) hit a 3-pointer and Lufkin followed with a dunk and Holy Cross was back up by 7 and in control.
"That was the turning point in the game," said Everhart.
