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Postgame press conference
BOSTON—Senior co-captains
Joel Smith (Leander, Texas) and
Jonathan Lee (Flint, Mich.) combined for 41 points on Tuesday afternoon, but visiting UNC Asheville defeated Northeastern, 79-73, at historic Matthews Arena. Lee, who returned to the court for the first time since sustaining a preseason foot injury, registered 19 points, five assists and there rebounds. Smith cracked the 20-point plateau for the fourth time this season, scoring a game-high 22.
Northeastern continued its strong community partnership by hosting more than 2,000 Boston school children for the rare weekday matinee. In addition to the game, the school children were treated to an autograph session with the women's basketball team, on-court games, and a message on sportsmanship.
Quincy Ford (St. Petersburg, Fla.) scored 11 points to join Lee and Smith in double figures for NU, which suffered its fifth straight defeat to drop to 4-6 on the season.
Dinko Marshavelski (Plovdiv, Bulgaria) scored six points, all in the game's opening minutes, while
Reggie Spencer (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) and
Zach Stahl (Chanhassen, Minn.) each added five.
Marco Banegas-Flores (Boston, Mass.) and
David Walker (Stow, Ohio) scored two apiece, and
Demetrius Pollard (Virginia Beach, Va.) added one to round out the scoring. Ford and Spencer grabbed eight rebounds each to pace the Huskies, who out-rebounded the Bulldogs, 35-33.
Jeremy Atkinson scored 21 points to lead four Asheville players in double figures. Jon Nwannunu scored 16, Keith Hornsby 15, and Will Weeks 14 for the visiting Bulldogs. Atkinson also grabbed a game-high nine rebounds as Asheville (4-7) won for the third time in four games.
Northeastern, which led by as many as seven points in the first half, fell victim to an 11-0 run midway through the period that turned a 21-16 advantage to a 27-21 deficit with just over four minutes remaining. NU closed to within two at the half, but could get no closer over the remainder of the contest.
Leading 31-29 at halftime, Asheville opened the second half on a 9-3 run to take an eight-point lead with just under 17 minutes remaining at 40-32. A 3-pointer by Stahl cut the deficit to five and Smith followed with a three of his own to make it a two-point game, 42-40, with plenty of time remaining.
The Bulldogs responded with a 17-6 run to build a 13-point advantage with 9:30 left to play. NU closed the gap to eight before another Asheville run swelled the lead to a game-high 14 points with under four minutes showing on the clock.
But the Huskies, who have shown a steely resolve all season, would not go quietly. NU tested the Bulldogs with a late 14-4 rally behind a host of Smith jumpers to climb to within four, 75-71, with nine seconds remaining. Asheville, though, was able to close out the game at the free-throw line.
While enjoying a decisive edge in the transition game (17-2), Northeastern could not overcome Asheville's advantage in the paint (46-32) and on second-chance opportunities (21-8).
On the afternoon, NU shot 42 percent (27-64) from the floor, 30 percent (6-20) from long range, and 76 percent (13-17) from the free-throw line. Asheville converted 54 percent (30-55) of its shot attempts and was 27 percent (4-15) from beyond the arc and 58 percent (15-26) from the charity stripe.
The Huskies will return to action on Friday, Dec. 21, when they travel to New Britain, Conn., to take on Central Connecticut State at 8 p.m.
Game notes
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Jonathan Lee scored 19 points and handed out five assists in his first game since March 3
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Joel Smith scored a game-high 22 points for his fourth 20-point performance of the season
> Smith is now just two points shy of becoming the 31st player in NU history to tally 1,000 career points
> Of NU's six losses, five have been by eight points or fewer
> Northeastern is now 0-5 in games in which the opposition attempts more free throws
> NU allowed an opponent to shoot better than 50 percent for the fourth time; the Huskies are 0-4 in those contests .
