BOSTON — The Northeastern Huskies will look to continue their best conference start in more than 25 years when they welcome Georgia State to historic Matthews Arena on Wednesday night in men's basketball action. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
Northeastern is 8-0 in Colonial Athletic Association play for the first time in program history (13-7 overall). The league start is the Huskies' best since opening ECAC North play at 9-0 in 1986-87.
Georgia State (10-12, 5-4 CAA) enters Wednesday night's game as one of the CAA's hottest teams. After going 1-3 in their first four league games, the Panthers have won four of their last five to move into the top half of the conference standings.
The programs will be meeting for the 15th time in series history. The Huskies lead the all-time series, 9-5, and have won four of the last six head-to-head meetings. NU is 6-1 all-time in games played in Boston.
“The Spot,” the popular fan gathering area on the arena floor level, will open one hour prior to tip-off.
Tickets for the game are available online at
GoNU.com/tickets. Northeastern students can reserve their tickets on
myNEU.
Fans unable to attend the game can catch all the action live in high definition at
GoNU.com/xstream. WRBB radio also will carry the game live on 104.9 FM and
WRBBsports.com with David Kroopnick and Zolan Kanno-Youngs on the call.
Storylines
> Northeastern is 8-0 in CAA play for the first time in program history (NU joined the CAA in 2005); the 8-0 league start is the Huskies' best since opening America East (then ECAC North) play at 9-0 in 1986-87
> The Huskies' current eight-game winning streak is their longest since winning 11 in a row during the 2009-10 season
> The Huskies have tallied at least 15 assists in seven of eight conference games this season
> As a team, NU ranks either first or second in the CAA in 10 of 21 statistical categories (details on page 7)
> NU and Georgia State will meet for the 15th time in series history; NU leads the all-time series, 9-5, and has won four of the last six and is 6-1 in games played in Boston
> The game features the CAA's top two 3-point shooting teams; NU ranks first in 3FG percentage (.369) and 3FG made (6.6/game), while Georgia State is second in both categories; and the top two 3FG shooters in GSU's Manny Atkins (.424) and NU's
Joel Smith (.407)
Scouting the teams
NORTHEASTERN has won eight straight games and nine of its last 10. The Huskies have opened CAA play at 8-0 for the first time since joining the conference in 2005, and sit atop the CAA standings.
Joel Smith (16.6 ppg) leads four NU players averaging in double figures. Smith tied a career high with 29 points in NU's double-overtime win over William & Mary on Jan. 23.
Jonathan Lee (13.3 ppg),
Quincy Ford (12.8 ppg) and
Reggie Spencer (10.7 ppg) also pace the Huskies. Spencer (6.2 rpg) and Ford (6.0 rpg) lead the team in rebounding. NU ranks first in the CAA in eight statistical categories: scoring offense, FG percentage, 3FG percentage, assists, steals, turnover margin, assist/turnover ratio, and 3FG made.
GEORGIA STATE enters Wednesday's game having won four of its last five games. Most recently, the Panthers were defeated by Drexel, 68-57. Prior to that, GSU collected wins vs. William & Mary, at Old Dominion, at Towson, and vs. UNCW. GSU is 3-7 in road games, including 2-2 in CAA play. R.J. Hunter averages a team-best 16.0 ppg to rank seventh in the CAA. Hunter also is second on the team in rebounding at 5.6 rpg, trailing just Manny Atkins (6.2 rpg). Devonta White (14.2 ppg) and Atkins (13.9) also average in double figures for the Panthers. Georgia State joins Northeastern as one of the CAA's best 3-point shooting teams, ranking second in both 3FG percentage (.346) and 3FG made (6.5/game).
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.
At 8-0, NU off to best CAA start ever
Northeastern is 8-0 in CAA play for the first time in program history. The Huskies, who joined the CAA in 2005, posted wins at George Mason (84-74), vs. UNCW (68-64), at Drexel (63-58 OT), at Towson (70-59), vs. Hofstra (65-60), at Delaware (74-70), vs. William & Mary (95-91 2OT), and vs. George Mason (71-51) to open conference play. In 2008-09, the Huskies raced out to a 6-0 mark en route to a 19-win season and a postseason appearance in the CBI tournament. The 8-0 league start is the Huskies' best since opening America East (then known as ECAC North) play at 9-0 in 1986-87.
Huskies run one of best in CAA history
The 8-0 start by Northeastern in CAA play is tied for the fifth-best in conference history. The 2006-07 VCU team and the 1985-86 Richmond team both started 11-0, while James Madison started 9-0 in 1990-91 and 1991-92. Old Dominion in 2004-05 and Richmond in 1988-89 also opened 8-0.
National notice
Northeastern's current hot streak has garnered national attention. The Huskies moved into the latest CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll, checking in at No. 23.
Smith earns CAA Player of the Week
Joel Smith earned CAA Men's Basketball Player of the Week honors for the week of Jan. 21-27. Smith turned in an impressive week, leading the Huskies to two wins while averaging 22 points, five rebounds, and five assists per game. The 6-4 shooting guard shot 64 percent (16-25) from the floor, 50 percent (5-10) from 3-point range, and a perfect 100 percent (7-7) from the free throw line on the week.
Dinko's defiance
Redshirt junior
Dinko Marshavelski set a season high with 11 points on Jan. 27 against George Mason. The Plovdiv, Bulgaria, native went 5-for-6 from the floor and his inspired play in the post garnered enthusiastic “Dink-o” chants from the Matthews Arena crowd. With 75 points in 153 minutes of action, Marshavelski is averaging nearly one point for every two minutes of playing time.
Steady Walker
Freshman
David Walker continues to be a steady presence on the floor for the Huskies. Walker has shown an ability to handle pressure that is well beyond his rookie status. In 270 minutes of CAA action, the 6-6 guard has committed just six turnovers—a rate of just one turnover per 45 minutes of playing time. His assist-to-turnover ratio in conference play is an impressive 5-to-1.
Smith simply scintillating in extra time
Joel Smith tied a career high with 29 points in the double-overtime win over William & Mary on Jan. 23. Impressively, the senior guard scored 16 of those points after regulation, including 11 in the second overtime. Smith did not miss a shot in the overtime periods, going 5-for-5 from the field, 1-for-1 from 3-point range, and 5-for-5 from the free throw line.
Marathon man
Senior co-captain
Jonathan Lee played every minute of the Huskies' Jan. 23 double-overtime win over William & Mary, logging 50 minutes of action. Lee, who registered 19 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals in the game, is averaging 37.3 minutes per game. The NU record for minutes in a game is 54, set by Dave Leitao and Perry Moss in a triple-overtime 76-72 loss to Villanova in the NCAA tournament on March 14, 1982.
Helping hand
Northeastern has tallied at least 15 assists in seven of eight conference games this season after hitting that mark just three times in 12 non-conference contests. The Huskies lead the CAA, averaging 14.2 assists per game. The per game average jumps to 15.9 in conference games.
I'll take that
NU, which leads the CAA in steals, has collected at least nine steals in four of its last seven games. The Huskies average a CAA-best 8.0 steals per game. Four NU players are averaging at least one steal per contest (
Jonathan Lee,
David Walker,
Joel Smith, and
Quincy Ford).
Give me three
More than a quarter of the Northeastern offense is coming from outside the arc. The Huskies average a CAA-leading 6.6 made 3-point field goals per game. In league play, the number jumps to 7.5. NU is shooting 36.9 percent from long-range on the season, which is first in the league, and an impressive 45.1 percent in conference games.
Generating offense
Northeastern has outscored opponents in points off turnovers in seven of eight conference games. In those games, NU has enjoyed a 164-85 advantage—a per-game average of 20.5-to-10.6.
Demetrius dialing in
Sophomore guard
Demetrius Pollard is finding his range in conference play. The Virginia Beach, Va., native is shooting 55 percent (11-20) from 3-point range in CAA play after hitting just 28 percent (8-29) in non-conference action. One of his non-conference makes, though, will be long-remembered by Huskies fans. Pollard nailed a 3-pointer from the top of the key with one second remaining to lift NU to a thrilling 65-64 win over city rival Boston University in the season opener.
Coen ranks among best in career CAA wins
Bill Coen continues to establish himself as one of the most highly regarded coaches in the CAA. Coen is currently ninth on the CAA's list of all-time winningest coaches. He is one of just four current CAA coaches to have cracked the top 10.
Winningest coaches in CAA play (CAA regular season and tournament games only)
1. Jim Larranaga (George Mason, 1998-2011) 183
2. Blaine Taylor (ODU, 2002-present) 148 *
3. Bruiser Flint (Drexel, 2002-present) 132 *
4. Dick Tarrant (Richmond, 1982-93) 106
5. Tom Pecora (Hofstra, 2002-10) 98
5. Charles “Lefty” Driesell (JMU, 1988-97) 98
7. Jerry Wainwright (UNCW, 1995-2002) 97
8. Jeff Capel, Jr. (ODU, 1995-2001) 77
9. Bill Coen (Northeastern, 2006-present) 71 *
10. Tony Shaver (William & Mary, 2003-present) 62 *
* active
Huskies in conference play
Northeastern joined the Colonial Athletic Association before the 2005-06 season. In their eighth season as a CAA member, the Huskies have won 59 percent (79-55) of their regular season games and have finished at or above .500 in conference play in seven of eight seasons. Prior to the CAA, Northeastern was a founding member of the America East Conference and played in the league from 1979 to 2005. (The conference was known as the North Atlantic Conference until 1996.) The Huskies captured the conference championship on seven occasions (1981, '82, '84, '85, '86, '87, '91).
1,000-point watch
Senior co-captain
Jonathan Lee is on pace to join fellow senior co-captain
Joel Smith in the 1,000-point club. Smith accomplished the feat on Dec. 21 in NU's 82-63 win at Central Connecticut. Lee would become the 32nd player in program history to record 1,000 points.
Lee point watch
Jonathan Lee 85 games 971 points
Limited pine time
NU's Jan. 27 game against George Mason was the 109th game of
Joel Smith's career. The Leander, Texas, native has appeared in 87 straight games, dating back to Feb. 23, 2010, and has made 66 consecutive starts, dating to Jan. 15, 2011. He has played in all but six games since arriving on Huntington Avenue in 2009, with all six missed games coming in his freshman season. The program record for career games is 128, achieved by Andre LaFleur (1983-87), Wes Fuller (1983-87) and Matt Janning (2006-10).
Shooting star
Senior co-captain
Joel Smith is posting impressive shooting numbers. Smith currently leads the CAA in free throw percentage at 89.2 percent. He is second in 3-point field goal percentage at 40.7, and eighth in overall field goal percentage at 46.8.
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Up next
Northeastern will play the final game of a four-game home stand on Saturday night, when it welcomes Drexel to historic Matthews Arena for a 6 p.m. tip. Comcast SportsNet will broadcast the game throughout the East Coast. The Huskies defeated the Dragons earlier this season, 63-58, in a thrilling overtime affair in Philadelphia on Jan. 8.
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