Box Score  |  Video Highlights  |  Postgame Video: Bill Coen • Jonathan Lee

Jonathan Lee and Chaisson Allen combined for 49 points as Northeastern rallied from a 19-point second-half deficit to escape UNC Asheville with a thrilling 83-82 victory in men's basketball action as part of Sears BracketBusters on Saturday afternoon in Asheville, N.C.

The Huskies (10-18) were down, 48-29, with 18:04 to go in the second half, but slowly chipped away and tied the game at 78-78 when Lee hit a pair of free throws with 1:13 to go. Allen hit a free throw to give Northeastern its first lead of the game with 43.9 seconds remaining and Lee followed with a pair of free throws to give the Huskies a three-point lead.

J.P. Primm was fouled shooting a three to give the Bulldogs a chance to tie the game, but missed the final free throw and Joel Smith hit a pair at the other end to restore the three-point edge with 7.7 seconds remaining.

The Bulldogs looked for a three in the final seconds and Primm's initial effort didn't go, but Chris Stephenson grabbed an offensive rebound and kicked it out to Matt Dickey on the perimeter. Dickey hit the jumper as the buzzer sounded, but he was just inside the three-point arc, leaving the Bulldogs one point short.

Lee set a career high with 25 points and shot 14-for-15 from the free throw line. Allen added 24 points, shooting 10-of-13 from the charity stripe, and notched six rebounds, six assists and four steals. Smith also hit double figures with 18 points for the Huskies.

Dickey led the Bulldogs (13-13) with 25 points and five rebounds and was joined in double figures by Primm's 16 points and 10 from Jaron Lane.

The Bulldogs opened the game with six straight points and continued to build a lead in the first. John Williams threw down a dunk with 6:28 to go in the first to cap an 8-0 run that put UNC Asheville up, 30-12. The Bulldogs closed the half with a Williams steal that led to a Jaron Lane layup, giving UNC Asheville a 44-27 lead at the break.

The Huskies used a 9-0 run to get back within single digits in the second half, beginning when the Huskies scored seven points without the Bulldogs touching the ball. Smith hit a three-pointer, but while the shot was in the air, an intentional foul was committed under the basket, putting Lee on the line, where he hit one of two shots. The Huskies then got the ball back and Lee knocked down a three. Soon after, Smith made a steal and went coast-to-coast for a dunk to cut the UNC Asheville lead to 55-48 with 12:44 to go.

Shots were falling for both sides as the Huskies went 53.5 percent (23-of-43) from the field, while the Bulldogs were 51.0 percent (26-of-51) from the floor and 52.9 percent (9-of-17) from beyond the arc. UNC Asheville hold a 29-27 edge in rebounds.

The Huskies return to Colonial Athletic Association play on Thursday, traveling to Fairfax, Va., to challenge first-place George Mason at 7 p.m. in a game that will air live on CSN New England.