Box Score
Post-Game Press Conference

BOSTON, Mass., Nov. 11, 2011 -- The Northeastern men's basketball team defeated crosstown rival Boston University, 82-74, in an overtime thriller on Friday night at BU's Case Gymnasium. The Huskies closed the game on a 13-2 run to claim their second-consecutive victory over the Terriers, and their sixth in the last eight head-to-head meetings.

Junior guard Joel Smith (Leander, Texas) collected his first career double-double, leading the Huskies in both points (20) and rebounds (12). Smith's rebound total was a career high, and his point total was just one shy of his career best. Freshman forward Reggie Spencer (Tuscaloosa, Ala.), making his Huskies debut, also picked up a double-double. He finished with 16 points--12 after halftime--and 10 rebounds. Kauri Black (Rialto, Calif.) finished with 12 points and eight rebounds, while Jonathan Lee (Flint, Mich.) chipped in 11 points and dished out six assists.

Senior guard Darryl Partin led the Terriers with a game-high 25 points. D.J. Irving and Matt Griffin added 17 and 11, respectively.

Northeastern out-rebounded BU, 52-32, and doubled-up the Terriers in second-chance points, 22-11.

The game, befitting what is arguably Boston's most hotly-contested basketball rivalry, featured 12 ties and 14 lead changes.

Northeastern opened the game with two quick buckets, both by Black on strong basket cuts from the left side. The four-point lead would be the largest for either team for the first 13 minutes of the game. After BU answered with a three-pointer from Matt Griffin, the two squads were locked in a back-and-forth affair.

After BU grabbed a momentary lead, 13-11, Spencer gave fans a preview of what was to come. The 6-7 forward converted an offensive rebound into his first collegiate points to tie the game. On the ensuing possession, he blocked a Dom Morris shot and, after a basket by Lee, he connected on his first two career free throws to give the Huskies a four point advantage, 17-13.

BU held the Huskies scoreless over the next 3:33 of action, building a seven point lead, before a jumper by freshman Quincy Ford (St. Petersburg, Fla.) broke the drought.

Smith, the Huskies' leading scorer, then sandwiched two free throws and his first field goal of the evening--a three-pointer--around a basket by BU's James Kennedy, to narrow the margin to two. The three from the pure-shooting Texas native energized the Huskies. Northeastern's swarming defense forced a BU turnover, which it converted into free throws, making one of two. After a near-turnover by BU, Northeastern's pressure forced the Terriers into a rushed three-point attempt. The Huskies converted the miss into a transition layup by Lee, and claimed their first lead, 28-26, in almost six minutes.

The teams traded baskets over the half's final three minutes, giving Northeastern a tight 34-32 halftime advantage.

The Terriers opened the half quickly, scoring on their first two possessions to take a short-lived two-point lead. Northeastern senior Kashief Edwards (Philadelphia, Pa.) converted a layup on an assist from Lee to collect his first points in a Huskies uniform.

A basket by BU's Irving gave the Terriers another two-point lead, their last until the 1:05 mark of regulation. Northeastern held BU scoreless over the next 4:22. During that span, the Huskies built a five-point advantage on the strength of a three-pointer by Alwayne Bigby (Toronto, Ontario) and baskets by Spencer and Lee.

A three-pointer by Joel Smith at the 7:38 mark pushed the Northeastern lead to eight and forced Terriers coach Joe Jones to call a timeout.

Out of the timeout, the Huskies continued their push, building a game-high 11-point lead with under 5:00 to play in regulation. The Terriers, however, closed the game on a furious 13-2 run, keyed by two three-pointers from Griffin. Four of BU's starting five scored during the run.

The Terriers had possession, with a chance to win, in the game's closing moments, but the Huskies' defense was up to the task. With two seconds remaining, and the game tied at 64, Lee blocked a three-point attempt by Irving out of bounds. A lob attempt by BU on the inbounds play was knocked away as time expired, to send the game to overtime.

Just as they did to start the second half, the Terriers attacked first in the overtime period. BU led for much of the first four minutes of the extra period, but never by more than three points.

The pivotal moment came with just under 1:30 to play in overtime, when Bigby pulled down a contested defensive rebound, hit Ford with the outlet who, after a spin move, delivered a pass to a slashing Lee for the layup. A thunderous dunk by Edwards gave the Huskies a six-point lead with 15 seconds remaining and touched off a raucous celebration by the hundreds of Northeastern fans who made the short trip to Commonwealth Avenue. Four Smith free throws closed the scoring for Northeastern, giving the Red and Black an 82-74 season-opening victory.

NOTES
> The Huskies have won their last two season-openers--both over BU--and three of their last four
> Northeastern has now won six of the last eight head-to-head match-ups with BU
> Junior co-captain Joel Smith collected his first career double-double and set a career-high in rebounds (12)
> Sophomore Alwayne Bigby tied a career high with eight rebounds
> Freshman Reggie Spencer collected a double-double in his first career game as a Husky.