The Northeastern University men's basketball team shot 52 percent and five players scored in double digits to lead the Huskies to a 73-55 win over James Madison in the first round of the CAA Tournament Friday night at the Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, Va.
Northeastern (14-16) advances to the quarterfinals to take on the third-seeded George Mason Patriots Saturday night at 8:30 p.m.
The Huskies had five players scored in double digits for the first time since NU's 92-79 win over Rider on Feb. 18, 2006. Sophomore captain Matt Janning led the way with 13 points while sophomore Manny Adako scored 12. Freshman Chaisson Allen chipped in 11 points and sophomore Baptiste Bataille and junior Eugene Spates added 10 points each. For Bataille, it ties his career high in scoring. In all, nine Huskies scored points in the game.
The Huskies and Dukes went back and forth early on in the game, but Northeastern took control when it held just a one-point lead, 21-20. The Huskies went on a 17-5 run to close out the first half. Spates knocked down a three at 2:49 to give NU a 10-point advantage, 32-22. The Huskies then made it a 15-point lead when Spates and Bataille nailed threes on back-to-back possessions at 1:33 and 0:41. Northeastern went into the half with a 38-25 lead.
James Madison (13-17) got back into the game and cut its deficit to just three points, 49-46, with 9:50 remaining, but the Huskies once again laid down the hammer as Allen and Bataille hit three-pointers on back-to-back possessions to give NU a nine-point lead.
From there, the Huskies played solid defense, not allowing the Dukes to take any open shots. Northeastern had as much as a 19-point lead, 69-50, with 2:03 left, putting the game out of reach.
Both teams shot well throughout the game, but the Huskies went to the line more often, outshooting the Dukes at the charity stripe, 17-8. The Huskies also had more success from downtown, going 8-for-17 while the Dukes were only 3-for-11.
Northeastern advances to the CAA quarterfinals for the third straight season and will seek a second win over George Mason in one week as the Huskies take on the Patriots at 8:30 p.m. at the Richmond Coliseum. The game will broadcast live on WBIX 1060 AM and WRBB Radio. CAASports.com will also have live video available at no charge.
Official Basketball Box Score
JAMES MADISON vs NORTHEASTERN
3/7/08 8:30 p.m. at Richmond, Va. (Richmond Coliseum)
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VISITORS: JAMES MADISON 13-17
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
01 Swanston, Kyle...... f 2-5 2-4 0-0 0 0 0 2 6 2 1 0 0 36
33 James, Juwann....... f 3-6 0-0 1-2 0 1 1 5 7 0 2 0 0 21
34 Carter, Terrance.... f 7-12 0-0 1-2 2 4 6 4 15 1 2 0 1 35
10 Jalloh, Abdulai..... g 3-11 1-6 3-6 0 3 3 4 10 2 5 0 1 27
51 Curtis, Pierre...... g 5-7 0-0 2-2 0 3 3 1 12 4 2 1 3 38
04 Ratner, Heiden...... 0-1 0-1 0-0 0 1 1 3 0 1 1 0 1 15
14 Louis, Ben.......... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
15 Chami, Gabriel...... 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 9
55 Thornton, Dazzmond.. 2-3 0-0 1-2 3 1 4 2 5 0 1 0 0 14
TEAM................ 2 2 4
Totals.............. 22-46 3-11 8-14 7 16 23 23 55 10 15 1 6 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 9-23 39.1% 2nd Half: 13-23 56.5% Game: 47.8% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 2-6 33.3% 2nd Half: 1-5 20.0% Game: 27.3% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 5-10 50.0% 2nd Half: 3-4 75.0% Game: 57.1% 3
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HOME TEAM: NORTHEASTERN 14-16
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
02 Alvarez, Chris...... f 1-1 0-0 2-4 2 2 4 2 4 1 2 0 1 18
32 Adako, Manny........ f 5-9 0-0 2-2 1 4 5 2 12 1 2 1 0 29
54 Ojougboh, Nkem...... c 4-5 0-0 1-3 1 2 3 2 9 1 3 0 1 22
03 Allen, Chaisson..... g 4-6 1-2 2-4 0 1 1 2 11 3 0 0 1 25
23 Janning, Matt....... g 4-10 3-6 2-2 0 4 4 1 13 3 3 0 2 37
10 Gunterberg, Johan... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
11 Lima, Vinny......... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
15 McDonald, Brian..... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
20 Smith, Matt......... 0-1 0-1 2-2 1 0 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 3
24 Spates, Eugene...... 3-7 2-4 2-2 3 2 5 1 10 3 1 0 0 15
25 Bataille, Baptiste.. 3-7 2-4 2-2 0 2 2 2 10 1 1 0 1 25
31 Aragbaye, Allen..... 0-0 0-0 2-2 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 3
50 Washington, Mark.... 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 3 4 4 0 1 1 0 0 18
TEAM................ 1 1 1
Totals.............. 24-46 8-17 17-23 10 20 30 18 73 15 15 1 7 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 13-24 54.2% 2nd Half: 11-22 50.0% Game: 52.2% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 4-7 57.1% 2nd Half: 4-10 40.0% Game: 47.1% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 8-12 66.7% 2nd Half: 9-11 81.8% Game: 73.9% 2
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Officials: Mike Eades, Sean Hull, Raymee Styons
Technical fouls: JAMES MADISON-TEAM. NORTHEASTERN-None.
Attendance: 5381
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total
JAMES MADISON................. 25 30 - 55
NORTHEASTERN.................. 38 35 - 73
Northeastern advances to play George Mason Saturday at 8:30
Points in the paint-JMU 30,NU 20. Points off turnovers-JMU 20,NU 18.
2nd chance points-JMU 4,NU 10. Fast break points-JMU 12,NU 0.
Bench points-JMU 5,NU 24. Score tied-2 times. Lead changed-1 time.
Last FG-JMU 2nd-00:17, NU 2nd-01:17.
