Box Score
Post-Game Press Conference

PHILADELPHIA, Pa., Nov. 30, 2011--The Northeastern men's basketball team lost to La Salle, 68-51, on Wednesday night in Philadelphia. The Huskies trailed by six at the half, 24-18, after shooting just 26-percent. Northeastern rallied to tie the game early in the second half, but a hot-shooting Explorers team, which connected on seven-of-eight second half three-pointers, pulled away for the victory.

Jonathan Lee led Northeastern with 11 points. Philadelphia native Kashief Edwards added 10 points and four steals, while freshman Reggie Spencer tallied 10 points and a game-high eight rebounds. Alwayne Bigby added six points and seven rebounds.

Earl Pettis led four Explorers in double figures with a game-high 15 points. Ramon Galloway added 14, Tyreek Duren scored 13, and Jerrell Wright totaled 11 for La Salle.

Northeastern out-rebounded La Salle, 40-29. The Huskies have now won the battle of the boards in four of five games.

In a defensive first half, Northeastern forced turnovers on La Salle's first four possessions, and five of its first six. The Huskies scored the game's first six points, and took a 6-2 lead into the first media timeout.

A basket by Lee and a three by Galloway made it 8-5 in favor of Northeastern. From there, the Huskies again turned up the defensive pressure, holding the Explorers scoreless for nearly four minutes. Northeastern, though, could manage only four points during the stretch, to push the lead to 12-5.

The Huskies then suffered through a seven-minute scoring drought, during which La Salle scored 11 straight points. Edwards was fouled on a transition layup attempt and converted one of two free throws to end the Huskies' drought.

A basket by Quincy Ford pulled the Huskies back to within two, at 17-15. But another scoreless stretch--this one of three minutes--enabled La Salle to push its advantage to six. A transition layup by Joel Smith and a free throw by Edwards closed the gap to three, 21-18, but a traditional three-point play by La Salle's Duren with one second remaining in the half gave the Explorers a 24-18 lead heading into the break.

Northeastern shot just 26-percent (7-27) from the floor in the first half to La Salle's 36-percent (9-25).

The Huskies opened the second half with six straight points to tie the game. The run was fueled largely by the play of Edwards, who had two baskets and two steals on successive possessions. A La Salle basket and two Lee free throws again evened the game, 26-26, with 17:20 remaining.

La Salle then used a 12-0 run, on a traditional three-point play and three straight three-pointers, to open up a 38-26 advantage.

A basket by Reggie Spencer stopped the Explorers' run and pulled the Huskies to within 10. But the Explorers continued to have the hot-hand, going on another run--this one 13-4--that included three more three-pointers, to take a 51-32 lead.

Northeastern, though, continued to battle. The Huskies rattled off six straight points to cut the margin to 51-38, forcing a La Salle timeout. However, that was as close as they would get. La Salle outscored Northeastern 17-13 down the stretch to set the final score, 68-51.

La Salle shot 63-percent (17-27) in the second half, including 87-percent (7-8) from three-point range.

Northeastern will return to action on Saturday, when it opens Colonial Athletic Association play by welcoming defending-champion Old Dominion to historic Matthews Arena. Tip off is scheduled for 1 p.m. The Huskies and Monarchs have split the last four head-to-head meetings.


GAME NOTES
> Lee has scored in double figures in nine-consecutive games, and 16 of the last 17 games
> Edwards followed his Northeastern career-high 11-point performance at St. John's with 10 points in his Philadelphia homecoming
> Northeastern has pulled down 40 or more rebounds in three of five games this season, after doing so only once all of last year
> Freshman Reggie Spencer was just two rebounds shy of his second career double-double (10 points and 8 rebounds in 20 minutes)
> Wednesday marked the first double-digit loss by Northeastern in 16 games (Jan. 22 at Drexel)
> Northeastern's one three-point field goal was its fewest in a game since Jan. 13, 2010