Something missing for Huskies in loss
This is the way things were not going for the Northeastern basketball team -- minus leading scorer and starting point guard Jose Juan Barea and coach Ron Everhart -- yesterday afternoon against visiting Holy Cross.
Midway through the first half, during a timeout at Solomon Court, there was a contest during which a person from the crowd made a layup and a free throw.
That total of 3 points was 1 more than the Huskies had scored to that juncture (it was 15-2, Crusaders) and Holy Cross had it pretty easy the rest of the way en route to a 59-44 victory, which snapped a three-game losing streak.
Everhart, who was serving a one-game suspension mandated by the Colonial Athletic Conference after being ejected in Tuesday's 72-65 loss at Wright State, and Barea (22.8 ppg) whose chronically sore knee sidelined him, will be back for Monday night's home game against George Mason.
''We were shorthanded from the jump," said Northeastern assistant coach Kim Lewis, who took over for Everhart and went with a point guard by committee, led by junior Adrian Martinez (7 points in 22 minutes) and freshman Chris Cyprian (one 3-pointer in 14 minutes). ''In the second half we started playing some defense and cutting harder and attacking that zone. Martinez got in foul trouble in the first half and he's the most experienced point guard we had."
The Crusaders (6-7), who have played 10 games on the road, have been dealing with weariness, and some health issues of their own. They played three games in as many days at the San Juan Shootout, losing twice, including a 76-75 setback against Mississippi State in which the Crusaders relinquished a 9-point lead in the final two minutes. That was followed by a 71-38 blowout loss at George Mason Tuesday.
So having a 28-11 lead at halftime against a group of Huskies badly in need of someone to hold their leash was a step in the right direction, and when NU made a run to close within 40-31 on Cyprian's lone basket, Holy Cross responded with a Torey Thomas free throw and a wide-open layup by Lawrence Dixon.
Any further thoughts of a comeback by the Huskies (6-4), who have lost three straight, ended when Kevin Hamilton hit a pair of field goals, the first a leaner to beat the shot clock, and Keith Simmons swished a 3-pointer from the corner to extend the lead to 53-34 with 4:36 to play.
Simmons, who led the Crusaders with 15 points, has recently been receiving intravenous treatments at the hospital before games because of body cramps, while Hamilton, who chipped in with 13 points, was ill earlier this season with pneumonia and also had a hip pointer. And Dixon's playing time has been limited because of asthma.
''Defensive effort has been our Achilles' heel all year," said Holy Cross coach Ralph Willard. ''But not today. We're still a tired basketball team right now. So to get this kind of win is a good sign.
''Keith and Kevin were healthy together for just our first two games, and they're a big part of what we do."
Willard said he was worried when NU closed the gap in the second half because of the collapse against Mississippi State and a dismal second half against George Mason. ''But Torey made a big steal on an inbounds, which was huge, and got the momentum back toward us. We took a big step today. I'm proud of our effort. But we've got to get a lot better. Defending will be the key to our season."
Simmons, who scored 10 points in the opening half, said he's at least happy he doesn't have a problem dealing with the IV injections.
''I don't mind being poked. They're just trying to get the cramping and dehydration under control," he said. ''It's harder to hydrate orally because of bloating. But I'm feeling fine right now. This was a good day."
