Box score

Matt Janning's three-pointer with a minute left to play broke a 56-56 tie and lifted the Northeastern University men's basketball team to a 61-58 victory over Kent State to win the 43rd annual Cable Car Classic at the Leavey Center in Santa Clara, Calif. Janning finished with a game-high 16 points and was named the tournament's MVP.

Janning was also named to the All-Tournament team, as was Nkem Ojougboh, who had nine points, eight rebounds and two blocks against the Golden Flashes to go with 12 points, 13 boards and six blocks Tuesday against Santa Clara. Baptiste Bataille was also honored with the tournament's Kevin & Dick O'Connor Award for the tournament player who best exemplifies sportsmanship and inspiration.

Janning's three broke what had been the fifth tie of the second half after Kent State had used a 13-4 run to climb back into the contest. After Northeastern had led 32-24 at halftime, Justin Greene started the Golden Flashes run with a pair of layups early. Then Anthony Simpson knocked down the big buckets in the run, draining a mid-range jumper to cut the deficit to two points and then sank a big three-pointer off a pass from Rodriquez Sherman after setting an excellent high ball screen. Kent State took a 37-36 lead with 13:42 remaining.

From that point on, no team had a larger lead than four points as the two squads battled back and forth through ties and lead changes. Free throws played a large part as both teams got into the bonus early. The Huskies went nearly seven minutes without a field goal before Chaisson Allen drove to the hoop, pulled a spin move on his defender and then through up a layup and was fouled. He completed the three-point play and tied the game at 53-53 with 4:32 to play.

After a Kent State miss, Janning made one of two free throws give the Huskies a one-point lead. However, Justin Greene came back down for Kent State, faked out a defender to his left and spun right for a one-handed layup and a one-point lead.

Then Mathiang Muo made a critical play when he started for the basket at the top of the key, stopped to create space and pulled up a jumper that swished through the net to put the Huskies back on top 56-55 with 2:21 remaining. Kent State missed a shot, but Greene collected the rebound and was fouled. He made one of two free throws to tie the game.

That set the scene for Janning, who decided to take the game into his own hands. Dribbling out on the perimeter, he took a high screen and calmly sank the three-pointer that put the Huskies up 59-56.

Greene put up a layup to cut the NU lead to one. Then Muo was called for a double-dribble, giving Kent State the chance to win with 20 seconds left. However, Chris Singletary tried to drive to the hoop, ran into a defender, made  a spin move and tried to throw up a shot, but he only hit the bottom of the rim. Muo grabbed the rebound and was fouled. He made both free throws to make it a three-point game, 61-58.

With eight seconds left, the Golden Flashes tried to tie, but Tyree Evans' three-point attempt missed and clanged off the rim.

Northeastern finished with 46.3 percent shooting from the floor and 78.3 percent shooting from the free throw line, one the team's best performances of the season. Kent State, which was led by Greene's 15 points, shot 40.8 percent from the field. Northeastern outrebounded Kent State 31-23.

The Huskies had gotten off to a great start with a 17-9 run to open the game. Good ball movement helped the Huskies get their baskets as they had 10 assists in the first half. Allen was the beneficiary of some good ball movement. He dished to Janning, who nailed a long three with a hand in his face at 16:02. Allen then received a pass from Alwayne Bigby and swished home a three at 15:13, putting the Huskies up 10-5.

After turnovers helped Kent State cut NU's lead to one, 10-9, the Huskies went on a 7-0 run that was capped when the team passed the ball around and Bataille found a wide open Allen for a three, giving NU the 17-9 advantage with 10:09 left.

After a mini Golden Flashes run brought Kent State within three, 19-16, the Huskies went on another long 11-2 run that included a three-pointer by Joel Smith at 6:37, a Bigby 15-footer off a pass from Adako at 4:26 and a mid-range jumper from Janning at 3:47. Bigby capped the run with a pair of free throws at 3:04 after getting fouled on his way to the hoop.

However, Kent State closed the half with a 6-2 run to get the deficit to single digits as the Huskies went into halftime with a 32-24 advantage. The Huskies finished the first half shooting 46.4 percent.

As good as the offense was in the first half, the Northeastern defense carried the team in the first 20 minutes, holding Kent State to 29.6 percent (8-for-27) shooting.

The Huskies will have a quick turnaround as they will host James Madison in conference play Saturday at Matthews Arena at 4 p.m.

2009 Cable Car Classic Champions - Northeastern University

All-Tournament Team
Ray Cowels, Santa Clara
Jamar Diggs, Wofford
Justin Greene, Kent State
Matt Janning, Northeastern
Nkem Ojougboh, Northeastern

Most Valuable Player
Matt Janning, Northeastern

Kevin & Dick O'Connor Award (for sportsmanship and inspiration)
Baptiste Bataille, Northeastern

D.J. Frandsen Award (best 6th man)
Kevin Trasolini, Santa Clara