Box score

The Northeastern University men's basketball team fell behind a powerful Utah State team by 15 points early, but the Huskies chipped away at the lead and then shot 48 percent in the second half to come away with a 64-61 victory over the Aggies Saturday at Matthews Arena.

"We couldn't be more pleased with the outcome of today's basketball game," said Northeastern head coach Bill Coen. "We faced a tremendous team, a tremendous program and a tremendous coach. We were very fortunate to come away with today's game."

Northeastern improves to 1-1 on the young season, and Utah State falls to 1-2. The Aggies had come into the game receiving votes in this week's Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Top 25 polls.

Matt Janning led a balanced Huskies attack with 14 points. He was one of four NU players in double figures. Nkem Ojougboh added 13 points and nine rebounds. Chaisson Allen had 11 points and four assists. Baptiste Bataille chipped in 12 points.

Early on it looked like things would go Utah State's way as the Aggies opened up on a 16-2 run, including eight points by Tai Wesley alone. The lead increased to 15, 19-4, when Jaxon Myaer drained a three-pointer at 12:23 of the first half.

Utah State continued to hold a double-digit advantage until Janning swished a three-pointer at 6:53 to cut the Aggies' lead to seven, 24-17. The teams exchanged points for the rest of the half, but Northeastern managed to get the deficit down to six, 34-28, at halftime.

In the second half, Utah State went back up by 11, 40-31, on free throws by Nate Bendall, but the Huskies roared back with a 14-2 run across nearly seven minutes of the game. At 11:31, Bataille missed a three-pointer, but Alwayne Bigby was there to clean up with the offensive rebound and layup, his first career basket. That made it 43-42 in favor of Utah State. After Tyler Newbold missed a three-pointer, Manny Adako came up with a low-post jumper that gave Northeastern its first lead of the game, 44-43, with 10:46 to play.

Utah State took back the lead with a Wesley layup, but an Ojougboh jumper and a Janning three-pointer gave NU a four-point lead with 9:02 left in the game.

The Huskies got the lead up to six points before Utah State made another run. Trailing by three, Newbold connected on a layup down low and was fouled by Ojougboh. He made his free throw and tied the game at 55-55 with 3:53 on the clock. Bataille then made a jumper, but Brian Green nailed a three at 2:24 to put the Aggies up one, 58-57.

After an Ojougboh free throw, an Aggies missed three and a pair of free throws by Bataille, the Huskies led 60-58 with 36 seconds left to play. Utah State had a chance to take the clock down and tie or take the lead. Wesley ended up with the ball down low, but he looked to kick it back out. He tried a lob pass out, but Allen anticipated the pass and stole the ball. He was fouled, and he made both free throws to put NU up 62-58.

With five seconds left, Ojougboh fouled Jared Quayle, who made only one of two free throws. Then Ojougboh was fouled by Matt Formisano on the inbounds, and he made both free throws to ice the game.

The difference in the game proved to be free throws as the Huskies were able to get to the charity stripe 24 times and made 19 of them. Utah State shot 80 percent from the line, but only on 10 attempts.

Wesley led the Aggies with 16 points. Bendall added 15 points and nine rebounds. Quayle, Utah State's leading scorer, was held at bay with only six points on 2-of-9 shooting.

The Huskies will next play at Boston University on Wednesday at Case Gym at 4 p.m.