Following loss, NU gets back in touch

Northeastern's Manny Adako takes a tumble in the paint during the Huskies' win over UNC-Wilmington. (ARAM BOGHOSIAN/FOR THE GLOBE)

Given Northeastern's poor shooting in a loss at last-place William & Mary Wednesday, the Huskies seemed glad to be back at Matthews Arena yesterday. After all, they've lost only twice there all season, and the 99-year-old house has seen countless Huskies' shots fall in practice and games. Perfect place to regain the shooting touch.

Thanks to career-high outputs from guards Chase Allen (game-high 21 points) and Baptiste Bataille, who scored 14 points off the bench, the Huskies stayed on top of the Colonial Athletic Association with a workmanlike 77-65 win over UNC-Wilmington in front of 2,073.

Shaking off some early drowsiness, NU led for the entire second half, rebounding from Wednesday's loss, which had snapped a four-game winning streak. The Huskies shot 56.3 percent, after a woeful 39.6 percent against W&M.

"It's good to be back home. Our guys are certainly comfortable here," said NU coach Bill Coen, whose team improved to 16-7, 11-2.

The Huskies were facing the league's worst defense, which came in allowing 81.1 points per game. However, the Seahawks did an admirable job at the outset, swarming Huskies leading scorer Matt Janning, and holding him to 13 points. They were also quick to double-team forward Manny Adako, limiting him to 8 points. Despite a small starting lineup - four guards and forward Dominique Lacy - the Seahawks were able to keep the Huskies from getting the ball into the paint, shutting off lanes and playing up-tempo.

But that meant more looks for Allen, Bataille, and Eugene Spates, who hit two second-half threes to keep the Huskies in front. "We couldn't really settle into our style of play," said Coen. "They limited the way we were able to use our size. Luckily, our perimeter game stepped up."

UNC-Wilmington (6-19, 3-10) capitalized on two turnovers, and a layup by forward Daniel Mercer put the Seahawks up, 14-9, a little less than six minutes into game. But the Huskies took the lead for good (28-25) on a three from Bataille with 3:28 left in the first half.

"The energy wasn't there, I don't think, at the beginning of the game," said Allen. "We started to come along. Baptiste came off the bench, and other guys coming off the bench gave us great energy. We started to pick things up."

Bataille's two second-half 3-pointers gave the Huskies a 67-55 lead with 2:26 remaining.

"His shots today were really the difference," said Coen of Bataille. "Just had ice water in his veins. Stepped up, made the shot, no hesitation."

The play of Bataille and Allen also forced Seahawks point guard Chad Tomko to the bench with foul trouble. Without the speedy Tomko, who leads the CAA in steals per game (2.3) and is fourth in assists, the Seahawks struggled.

"With Chad in the game, our motor runs a lot faster," said UNC-Wilmington coach Benny Moss. "But you have to give Northeastern credit, they scored the basketball. It's hard to attack and run if you're not getting the stops to do it."

Spates hit from downtown after a drive and dish from Bataille, opening up a 54-43 lead with 10:03 remaining, and though UNC-Wilmington's Johnny Wolf (team-high 19 points) nailed a three to bring the deficit to 6 at 54-48, Spates's trey and subsequent jumper brought it back to 10.

The Seahawks got consecutive threes from Lacy, making it 61-55, but Bataille's pair of daggers ended any threat.

"Both those guys are experienced now, and not afraid to take and make big shots," said Coen of Bataille and Allen. "We need contributions from everyone on this team if we're going to continue to be successful in this league."