Northeastern unravels late
Poised to pick up its sixth straight win, Northeastern instead left Atlanta yesterday with another close loss in an up-and-down season.
The Huskies took a 54-46 lead with 4:47 remaining in the second half on a layup by Manny Adako. But Georgia State closed the game with a 10-1 run, going ahead on Trae Goldston's 3-pointer with three seconds left, to pick up a 57-55 victory.
Matt Janning scored 19 points for Northeastern (12-13, 8-7 Colonial Athletic Association), which has lost five times by 3 points or fewer. The Huskies' collapse against the Panthers (7-18, 4-11) marked their first loss since Jan. 26, and cost them momentum heading into Wednesday's visit from conference-leading Virginia Commonwealth.
Columbia 73, Harvard 64 - Despite a game-high 25 points by Drew Housman, the host Crimson (6-18, 1-7 Ivy) dropped their seventh in a row as John Baumann (20 points, 12 rebounds) rallied the Lions (12-11, 5-3).
Cornell 73, Dartmouth 63 - The visiting Big Red (16-5) got 16 points from Ryan Wittman in improving to 8-0 in the Ivy League. The Big Green (8-14, 1-7) have lost six straight.
Brown 65, Princeton 63 - Mark McAndrew had 20 points and the visiting Bears (14-8, 6-2 Ivy) overcame a 35-point night by the Tigers' Noah Savage to win in overtime.
Penn 78, Yale 65 - At Philadelphia, Tyler Bernardini scored all of his 19 points in the second half to rally the Quakers (9-15, 4-3 Ivy) past the Bulldogs (10-12, 4-4).
Holy Cross 63, Bucknell 53 - Tim Clifford scored 18 points for the visiting Crusaders (14-10, 5-6 Patriot), who hit 27 of 33 free throws in their third straight win.
Mount St. Mary's 77, Quinnipiac 70 - Jeremy Goode (21 points) and Chris Vann (20) helped the Mountaineers (13-13, 9-6 Northeast) outlast the Bobcats (13-12, 9-5) in Emmitsburg, Md.
Long Island 78, Central Conn. 64 - At New York, Jaytornah Wisseh had 21 points and the Blackbirds (13-12, 5-9 Northeast) were barely threatened by the Blue Devils (12-14, 8-6).
Sacred Heart 73, St. Francis (Pa.) 57 - Brice Brooks had 18 points for the Pioneers (15-11, 12-3 Northeast) in Fairfield, Conn.
Fairfield 88, Rider 76 - Warren Edney and Marty O'Sullivan each scored a career-high 18 points as the Stags (11-14, 9-6 Metro Atlantic) knocked off the Broncs (18-8, 11-4) in Bridgeport, Conn.
Bentley 70, UMass-Lowell 55 - Nate Fritsch came off the bench to provide 15 points and 10 rebounds as the Falcons (24-0, 19-0 Northeast-10), the nation's No. 1 team in Division 2, shook off the host River Hawks (10-14, 7-12) in the second half to wrap up their fourth straight conference crown. With 51 consecutive regular-season victories, Bentley is one shy of the Division 2 record.
Assumption 64, Stonehill 62 - Greg Twomey (15 points) scored on a runner with 22 seconds to play, lifting the Greyhounds (19-7, 13-6 NE-10) past the Skyhawks (15-11, 11-8) in Worcester.
Saint Rose 86, AIC 76 - Both teams had five double-figure scorers, but Jermaine Clark (21 points) and the Golden Knights (19-6, 16-4 NE-10) got the better of the Yellow Jackets (10-14, 7-12) in Albany, N.Y.
Merrimack 85, Franklin Pierce 78 - Micky Burtnyk shot 7 of 9 from 3-point range and finished with 32 points to guide the Warriors (15-10, 10-10 NE-10) past the Ravens (8-16, 4-15) in Rindge, N.H.
Le Moyne 86, Saint Anselm 84 - The Hawks (11-13, 9-11 NE-10) lost to the host Dolphins (13-12, 11-9) in overtime despite eight 3-pointers and 26 points from Chris Vetrano.
Bryant 74, Southern Conn. 57 - Jon Ezeokoli totaled 19 points for the Bulldogs (16-9, 12-8 NE-10), who raced to a 43-19 halftime lead over the visiting Owls (6-18, 2-17).
Pace 83, Saint Michael's 69 - The Setters (11-13, 10-9 NE-10) blew past the Purple Knights (7-16, 5-14) in Pleasantville, N.Y., behind 28 points from Ryan Williams.
Amherst 69, Trinity 58 - Andrew Olson (16 points) and Brandon Jones (15) helped the Lord Jeffs (22-2, 9-0 NESCAC), ranked No. 1 nationally in Division 3, turn back the Bantams (18-6, 6-3) in Amherst.
Williams 87, Wesleyan 57 - Blake Schultz had 14 points and Chris Shalvoy added 13 to lead the Ephs (17-7, 4-5 NESCAC) in a home blowout.
Bates 65, Bowdoin 62 - Chris Wilson (20 points) hit a jumper with 12 seconds left that pushed the Bobcats (17-7, 5-4 NESCAC) past the host Polar Bears (19-5, 6-3).
Conn. College 93, Middlebury 86 - Charles Stone netted 20 points for the Camels (17-7, 4-5 NESCAC), who shot 82 percent from the field in the second half (18 of 22) to race past the host Panthers (18-6, 6-3).
Colby 71, Tufts 68 - At Waterville, Maine, Adam Choice provided 27 points and the White Mules (13-11, 3-6 NESCAC) edged the Jumbos (11-13, 1-8) to secure the final spot in the conference tournament.
UMass-Dartmouth 80, Eastern Conn. 76 - The Corsairs (21-2, 10-2 Little East), ranked fifth in Division 3, survived in Willimantic, Conn., as Dan Holbrook had 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Western Conn. 107, Keene St. 91 - The visiting Colonials (14-8, 6-6 Little East) won their fifth in a row, getting 30 points from Dashon Jennings.
R.I. College 79, Southern Maine 72 - At Providence, Tirrell Hill's 18 points led the balanced Anchormen (18-5, 10-2 Little East).
Plymouth St. 82, UMass-Boston 59 - Bryan Tracy (24 points) and the host Panthers (7-16, 3-9 Little East) were too much for the Beacons (2-21, 1-11).
Fitchburg St. 45, Westfield St. 42 - Brian Torres tallied 16 points for the visiting Falcons (15-6, 7-2), who held onto first place in the MASCAC by holding the Owls (16-7, 6-4) to one field goal over the final 13 minutes.
Salem St. 85, Framingham St. 74 - Dylan Holmes (22 points) and Marquis Victor (20) took care of the offense for the Vikings (16-6, 6-3 MASCAC) in Framingham.
Worcester St. 91, Mass. College 62 - Josh Barry supplied 13 points and 15 rebounds as the Lancers (10-13, 3-7 MASCAC) cruised at home.
WPI 81, MIT 46 - Jerome Kirkland scored all 19 of his points in the first half, and the host Engineers (18-5, 9-1) clinched their third straight NEWMAC title.
Coast Guard 50, Babson 44 - At New London, Conn., Al Sowers scored 14 points as the Bears (15-6, 6-5 NEWMAC) won their fourth in a row.
Springfield 74, Wheaton 60 - Gregg Daly led four double-figure scorers for the host Pride (10-12, 5-5 NEWMAC) with 18 points.
Roger Williams 73, Regis 56 - At Weston, Geoff Baranger's 26 points propelled the Hawks (14-9, 10-1 Commonwealth Coast) to their fifth consecutive victory.
Curry 69, Wentworth 64 - A double-double from Johnathan Bowers (16 points, 12 rebounds) powered the Colonels (13-10, 9-2 Commonwealth Coast) to a come-from-behind win on the road.
Gordon 67, WNEC 59 - At Springfield, Aaron Trigg had 23 points as the Fighting Scots (16-7, 8-3 Commonwealth Coast) ended a five-game winning streak by the Golden Bears (14-9, 8-3).
UNew England 90, Colby-Sawyer 78 - Johnnie Jefferson racked up 33 points to power the Nor'easters (14-9, 8-3 Commonwealth Coast) past the Chargers (12-9, 7-4) in Biddeford, Maine.
Endicott 72, Salve Regina 65 - Todd Burton's 17 points led the Gulls (10-13, 6-5 Commonwealth Coast) in Beverly.
Emmanuel 55, Johnson & Wales 54 - Mack Spellman's 3-pointer with six seconds left lifted the Saints (16-7, 14-2 Great Northeast) past the Wildcats (14-9, 11-5) in Providence.
Lasell 90, Suffolk 63 - At Boston, Jose Guitian had 16 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists for the Lasers (15-8, 12-4 Great Northeast). 