Northeastern rises to the occasion

Huskies hold off VCU comeback

RICHMOND - In a prime-time matchup between the Colonial Athletic Association's top teams, Northeastern strung together enough defense to take sole possession of first place in the conference.

In their only meeting of the season, the Huskies (14-6, 9-1) limited Virginia Commonwealth (15-6, 8-2 ) to their second-lowest output in conference play this season in a physical, 68-63 win at the Stuart C. Siegel Center last night.

"All game long both teams were battling," said NU's Matt Janning, who finished with 11 points. "It was rough out there."

Trailing by 16 points with 15:30 left in the second half, the Rams pulled to within 2 with 1:58 remaining after a layup from Eric Maynor, who had a game-high 30 points.

"It was two teams that battled tonight," VCU coach Anthony Grant said. "Sixteen points is a lot to overcome in a half."

Baptiste Bataille (6 points) hit two free throws to extend the lead to 4 points with 1:33 remaining. Following a scuffle underneath the basket, the No. 1 defense in the conference came up with two key blocks to deny the Rams a shot at a comeback. The once-raucous standing-room crowd of 6,841 was finally silenced after Chaisson Allen sealed the game with two free throws.

"It was hard to get into the flow of the game, due to the amount of fouls," Maynor said. "Normally we come to play every game with a desire to win, but tonight Northeastern came with that desire too."

Northeastern is holding conference opponents to 59.3 points per game. It was the most points the Huskies have allowed in the conference this season.

"Last year we probably would have lost this game," said NU coach Bill Coen, who improved to 2-2 in Richmond.

Neither team wanted to take charge with five lead changes and three ties in the opening period. It was a staggered start with the officials calling eight early fouls on VCU to Northeastern's two by the 12:52 mark. Northeastern hit four straight 3-pointers, two by Janning, to extend the lead to 29-13 with 6:27 left in the first half. The Huskies finished 19 of 40 from the floor, 9 of 15 from the 3-point line, and 21 of 28 from the free throw line.

"If you expect to win, you can't play like that," said Maynor. "They are a good team and we will see them again."

VCU mounted a furious comeback at the end of the half behind a 5-point swing on a 3-pointer by Brandon Rozzell (16 points) and an emphatic Larry Sanders dunk. Maynor finished the half with 12 points.

VCU scored 20 points off turnovers, but Northeastern scored 13 second-chance points.

VCU shot 23 of 60 from the floor, 6 of 17 from 3-point range, and 11 of 13 from the free throw line.

Northeastern finished 3-0 through the Virginia swing.

"It is a huge confidence-builder," said Manny Adako, who finished with 12 points. "We want to stay humble and take it one game at a time."

"We lost to a team that was a good team and that was playing well," said Grant. "After a game like this, we have to rethink what we do and not let our emotions get the better of us."

Northeastern returns to action Saturday, hosting Delaware at 1 p.m.