The Northeastern men's basketball team defeated America East opponent Boston University 74-71 on Saturday afternoon at Case Gym.
The Huskies came away with a close victory and snapped a three-game losing streak and a four-game drought with the Terriers.
Senior Marcus Blossom led NU with 17 points, while juniors Ricky Cranford (15) and Jean Bain (11) were also solid contributors for the Huskies.
The first half of play was all NU as the Huskies scored a season-high 45 points and took a 13-point lead to the lockerroom, 45-32. Seven Huskies scored in the first frame of action with Blossom and Bain leading the way with nine points each.
NU threw several defensive schemes at BU in the opening half and caused the Terriers to turn the ball over seven times. The Huskies also outrebounded their rival 20-11 and went to the line four more times than the Terriers. NU shot an impressive 51.6 percent from the floor (16-31) and 50 percent from three-point land (5-10) to help its cause.
The second half started off with back and forth action as both teams traded buckets for the first first seven minutes of action. A Jason Grochowalski putback and a Matt Turner dunk started an 11-2 run that got BU within six, 62-56, with 8:17 to go. The Huskies and Terriers once again swapped baskets until BU closed within four, 70-66.
NU's Cranford went to the line and missed the front end of a one-and-one and BU responded as Paul Seymour's jumper cut the lead to two, 70-68. BU fouled Tyrone Hammick on the ensuing inbounds and Hammick also missed the front end of his bonus situation.
With a chance to tie the game or take the lead, Seymour's three-point try missed just short and Bain came up with the scrum under the hoop. Bain dished the ball to a wide open Blossom who made the layup to increase NU's lead to four, 72-68.
The Terriers wouldn't quit as Seymour buried a three from the corner to make it a one-point game, 72-71. NU's Jean Francois then turned the ball over on the inbounds pass and the Huskies fouled BU's Kevin Fitzgerald who went to the line for a one-and-one. Francois would have his revenge, however, as Fitzgerald missed the front end of his bonus chance and Francois was fouled immediately on the rebound. Francois netted both free throws to give NU its final three-point edge, 74-71.
One last attempt by Seymour fell short as the Huskies escaped with the narrow three-point victory.
The Huskies improve to 5-16 overall and 4-8 in conference action, while BU drops to 9-11 on the season and 5-7 in America East play. NU now trails the all-time series 62-60 with the Terriers.
Next up for NU is America East foe Delaware on Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. at Solomon Court. The Huskies lost to Delaware earlier this season in Newark, 71-54, but defeated the Fightin' Blue Hens at home last season, 90-74.
VISITORS: Northeastern 5-16 (4-8 AE)
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
No. N A M E FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
05 Bain, Jean * 4-7 3-6 0-0 0 1 1 5 11 2 2 0 3 29
22 Cranford, Charles * 7-12 1-3 0-1 1 0 1 1 15 2 1 0 0 30
30 Blossom, Marcus * 5-13 2-5 5-6 2 4 6 2 17 4 2 0 3 38
34 Hammick, Tyrone * 3-6 0-0 3-4 2 2 4 3 9 3 1 0 3 28
40 Aygar, George * 4-6 0-0 0-0 2 3 5 1 8 1 1 1 0 24
03 Morris, Cleophus 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 10
04 West, Tim 1-1 0-0 2-3 0 1 1 0 4 0 0 0 0 4
23 Francois, Jean 3-5 0-0 2-2 1 4 5 3 8 1 2 1 1 23
32 Barnes, Dwayne 0-6 0-3 2-4 4 0 4 2 2 0 1 0 0 14
TEAM ........................................ 0 3 3 1
TOTALS 27-56 6-17 14-20 12 18 30 17 74 14 11 2 10 200
TOT-FG 1stH: 16-31 51.6% 2ndH: 27-56 48.2% OT: 0-0 00.0% Game: 48.2% Deadbl
3pt-FG 1stH: 5-10 50.0% 2ndH: 6-17 35.3% OT: 0-0 00.0% Game: 35.3% Rebs
FThrow 1stH: 8-12 66.7% 2ndH: 14-20 70.0% OT: 0-0 00.0% Game: 70.0% 2
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HOME TEAM: Boston University 9-11 (5-7 AE)
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
No. N A M E FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
03 Fitzgerald, Kevin * 2-3 1-1 0-1 1 2 3 1 5 4 5 0 3 35
05 Seymour, Paul * 5-13 4-7 0-2 0 4 4 2 14 2 2 0 0 36
24 Grochowalski, Jason * 6-12 2-5 2-2 4 4 8 2 16 1 0 0 1 32
31 Dhondt, Stijin * 0-2 0-0 4-4 0 1 1 4 4 2 1 0 1 17
43 Butt, Ryan * 2-5 1-1 0-0 2 3 5 1 5 2 1 0 0 16
10 Breland, Derrick 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 5
21 Graham, Derrick 8-11 0-0 4-4 3 4 7 4 20 1 1 0 0 28
22 Michalek, Mark 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
34 Turner, Matt 3-7 0-2 1-2 0 2 2 2 7 1 4 1 0 25
42 Rodriguez, Ignacio 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 5
TEAM ........................................ 1 1 2
TOTALS 26-53 8-16 11-15 11 21 32 18 71 13 15 1 5 200
TOT-FG 1stH: 11-24 45.8% 2ndH: 26-53 49.1% OT: 0-0 00.0% Game: 49.1% Deadbl
3pt-FG 1stH: 4-6 66.7% 2ndH: 8-16 50.0% OT: 0-0 00.0% Game: 50.0% Rebs
FThrow 1stH: 6-8 75.0% 2ndH: 11-15 73.3% OT: 0-0 00.0% Game: 73.3% 2
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TECHNICAL FOULS:
Northeastern - none
Boston University - none
ATTENDANCE: 1195
SCORE BY PERIODS: 1st 2nd OT1 OT2 OT3 OT4 TOTAL
Northeastern 45 29 74
Boston University 32 39 71
