BOSTON — The Northeastern men's basketball team will open the 2012-13 season on Friday when it hosts city rival Boston University at 7 p.m. at historic Matthews Arena. It marks the third consecutive year that the local foes will square off in the season opener.
Tickets for the game, dubbed the Battle of Boston, are limited but still available at
GoNU.com/tickets. Students can reserve their tickets on myNEU.
Fans unable to attend the game can catch all the action live on
GoNU.com/xstream, with Adam Jones and Pat McHugh on the call. WRBB radio will also carry the game live, with Brandon Challener, Zolan Kanno-Youngs and Coray Runge calling the action.
Game story lines
> Northeastern will open its 93rd season of men's basketball on Friday, Nov.9, when it hosts city rival Boston University at historic Matthews Arena at 7 p.m.
> Northeastern has faced BU more than any other team in program history, with Friday night's game being the 140th all-time meeting; BU owns a slight lead in the series (68-71), but NU has won six of the last eight match ups
> The rivals — whose campuses are located less than two miles apart — were conference opponents from 1979 to 2005, before Northeastern joined the CAA
> Friday's game marks the third consecutive year that the local foes will square off in the season opener, with NU winning the previous two openers (2010: 66-64; 2011: 82-74 OT)
> Northeastern is 3-1 in its last four season openers; the Huskies are 3-3 in season openers under head coach
Bill Coen, including 2-0 in season openers played at home
A look at the Huskies
Northeastern returns its top four scorers and top four rebounders from a season ago in senior guards
Jonathan Lee and
Joel Smith, and sophomore forwards
Quincy Ford and
Reggie Spencer. Lee, a preseason All-CAA first team selection, averaged better than 35 minutes per game to rank fourth in the CAA last season. He ranked in the top 15 in the CAA in eight other statistical categories, including scoring, assists, steals, 3-point field goals made, field goal percentage, 3-point field goal percentage, free throw percentage, and assist-to-turnover ratio. A foot injury will sideline Lee for the first part of the season, including the opener against BU. Smith finished last season as one of the CAA's most prolific and proficient 3-point shooters. He ranked nationally in 3-point field goals per game and enters the 2012-13 season ranked third in career 3-point percentage at Northeastern and is tied for fifth in career 3-point field goals made. The versatile Ford was named to the CAA All-Rookie team and earned a spot on the 2012 CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Freshmen All-America team. He was among just 25 freshmen nationally, and one of just two CAA players, to be named to the squad. A preseason All-CAA second team selection, he played in all 31 games and earned 20 starts in 2011-12 for the Huskies. He ranked third on the team in scoring, second in rebounding, and led the team in both steals and blocks. Spencer played in all 31 games last season, earning 23 starts. He led the team in rebounds, with better than five per game, and was fourth in scoring at nearly 7 ppg. The Huskies also welcome a talented class of four freshmen and a junior transfer to Huntington Avenue.
Scouting the Terriers
Second-year head coach Joe Jones returns seven players from last season's 16-16 squad. The Terriers will be led by junior point guard D.J. Irving, their top returning scorer who earned preseason all-conference honors. BU also returns its top rebounder from a season ago in junior forward Dom Morris. Joining Morris in the front court is junior Travis Robinson, who started 28 games last year and averaged 5.3 ppg and 2.9 rpg.
NU vs. BU series snapshot
Northeastern has faced BU more than any other team in program history. The rivals — whose campuses are located less than two miles apart — were conference opponents from 1979 to 2005, before Northeastern joined the CAA. The Terriers hold a slight edge in the all-time series (68-71), but the Huskies have won six of the last eight match ups, including a thrilling 82-74 overtime affair in last year's season opener at BU's Case Gym.
The last time they played
Northeastern defeated BU, 82-74, in an overtime thriller on Nov. 11 at BU's Case Gymnasium in the season opener for both programs. 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 collected his first career double-double, leading the Huskies in both points (20) and rebounds (12). Freshman forward
Reggie Spencer, making his Huskies debut, also picked up a double-double. He finished with 16 points — 12 after halftime — and 10 rebounds.
Jonathan Lee chipped in 11 points and dished out six assists.
Lee named national finalist for Senior CLASS Award
Northeastern men's basketball senior
Jonathan Lee has been selected as a candidate for the 2012-13 Senior CLASS Award in collegiate basketball. Lee, a graphic design major from Flint, Mich., is one of just 30 candidates nationally. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence—community, classroom, character and competition. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
Three Huskies earn All-CAA honors
Northeastern senior guard
Jonathan Lee was named to the preseason All-CAA first team by a vote of the league's coaches, media relations directors and media members. Lee led a trio of Huskies who earned All-CAA honors. Sophomore forward
Quincy Ford was voted to the second team, while senior guard
Joel Smith earned honorable mention.
Huskies Unleashed
The Northeastern athletic department's popular video series “Huskies Unleashed” followed the men's basketball team on its summer exhibition tour in Canada. The four-part series provides fans with exclusive and unprecedented access to the program. The series gives viewers a glimpse of the team during practices, scrimmages, team meetings and workouts leading up to its Canadian tour. Huskies Unleashed then follows the team during the tour, providing game highlights, behind-the-scenes footage, exclusive interviews and other original content. Links to the online video series can be found on
GoNU.com and the men's basketball Facebook page (
facebook.com/GoNUmbasketball).
Get "unleashed" at the Spot
Check out The Spot, Northeastern's brand new FanFest-style gathering for Huskies of all ages! At The Spot, located on the floor next to the basketball court, alumni, their families, and students age 21 and over can enjoy a la carte concessions and a cash bar in a festive atmosphere.
Stay connected
Connect with Northeastern athletics and Northeastern men's basketball on Facebook and Twitter to receive scores and information, interact with fellow fans, access photos and videos, and receive exclusive promotional and ticket offers.
Northeastern Athletics:
@GoNUathletics //
facebook.com/GoNUathletics
Northeastern Men's Basketball:
@GoNUmbasketball //
facebook.com/GoNUmbasketball
Fans are encouraged to use
#GoNU in tweets to join the conversation with fellow fans.
Earn points, win rewards with Huskies Ncentives
Northeastern has a new rewards program that lets you earn points and win great prizes just by doing the online social activities you do everyday. Go to
GoNU.com/Ncentives for more information.
.
