SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Northeastern will face Charlotte on Friday at 2:30 p.m. (ET) in the semifinal of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The game at Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan will be carried live on ESPNU. The Huskies advanced to the semis after erasing a 14-point second-half deficit to defeat Georgetown, 63-56, on Thursday. The 49ers engineered an upset of their own in the first round, defeating Kansas State, 68-61.




Story lines
• Northeastern rallied from a 14-point second-half deficit to defeat Georgetown, 63-56, on Thursday in the first round of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The Huskies used a 14-0 second-half run to tie the game and a 12-2 game-closing run to secure the win.

• Reggie Spencer tied a career high with 18 points to lead all scorers while front-court mate Scott Eatherton posted his third double-double in four games with 12 points and 10 boards in the win over the Hoyas.

• Northeastern is making its second appearance in Puerto Rico. The Huskies are now 3-1 on the Isle of Enchantment after winning two of three games at the 2002 San Juan Shootout.

• Northeastern and Charlotte will meet for the fourth time in program history on Friday. The 49ers lead the series, 3-0. The squads met in the championship game of the Great Alaska Shootout last season.

About the Huskies
Northeastern, which had established itself as an upper-echelon team in the competitive Colonial Athletic Association, broke through for its first CAA regular- season title in eight seasons as a conference member. The league title—the first for the Red and Black in 20 years—was the 11th all-time for the tradition-rich program. The Huskies collected 20 wins, equaling the best win total in eight years, and returned to the postseason for the third time in five years.

This year's squad is led by junior forward Scott Eatherton, who is averaging a double-double at 13.5 ppg and 10.0 rpg. Sophomore David Walker is second in scoring at 11.8 ppg. Junior Reggie Spencer and sophomore Zach Stahl also average in double figures with 11.5 and 10.0 ppg, respectively. Spencer is second on the team in rebounding at 6.5 rpg, while Stahl hauls in 5.0 caroms per contest. Walker averages 3.5 assists per game to lead a team that dishes 11.5 apg. As a team, the Huskies are shooting 45.7 percent from the floor and have out-rebounded opponents in all four games this season.

Spencer ties career high as Huskies rally past Georgetown
Junior forward Reggie Spencer tied a career high with 18 points to lead all scorers as Northeastern rallied from a 14-point second-half deficit to defeat Georgetown, 63-56, on Thursday in the first round of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. Spencer shot 6-of-11 from the floor and 6-of-10 from the line while grabbing nine rebounds—second-most in the game. The junior forward also dished two assists.

Double me up, Scotty
Junior transfer Scott Eatherton registered his third double-double in four games on Thursday against Georgetown with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The Pennsylvania product, who played his first two seasons at St. Francis (Pa.), recorded 15 points and 10 rebounds in the season opener against Boston University. He followed that with 20 points and 13 rebounds in just 25 minutes of action at Stony Brook on Nov. 13. He is the first NU player to post back-to-back double-doubles since Shawn James in February 2006. Eatherton's double-double in the opener was the first for an NU player since Dec. 29, 2012 (Quincy Ford at UAB). It also was the first for a player in his NU debut since Nov. 11, 2011 (Reggie Spencer at BU).

Cardiac Canines, part two?
Bill Coen's Huskies earned the nickname "Cardiac Canines" a year ago after completing seven double-digit comebacks to claim victory. The Huskies erased a 14-point second half deficit to defeat Georgetown on Thursday for their first major rally of the 2013-14 season.

Pollard simply scintillating in win over CCSU; ties single-game school record
Junior Demetrius Pollard scored a career-high 27-points to lead Northeastern to its first win of the season, 83-69, over Central Connecticut on Saturday. Pollard tied a single-game school record with eight 3-pointers. He shot a remarkable 73 percent from beyond the arc (8-11) and 66 percent overall, while connecting on 75 percent (3-4) from the free throw line. In a complete, all-around performance, the Virginia Beach native dished five assists, while collecting four rebounds and one steal. His assists resulted in 12 Northeastern points, giving him a hand in 39 points, or 47 percent of Northeastern's total offensive output for the game.

CCSU win features career, team highs
A number of Northeastern players set or tied career highs on Saturday in the Huskies' 83-69 win over Central Connecticut. Joining Pollard, who registered a career-high 27 points and tied a program record with eight 3-pointers, Chris Avenant tied a career-high with five points and David Walker tallied a career-best three blocks. As a team, Northeastern collected a season-high 10 3-pointers. The Huskies also blocked seven shots, their most since Jan. 14, 2012, vs. William & Mary.

Return to the Isle of Enchantment
Northeastern is now 3-1 in games played in Puerto Rico. NU is making its second appearance on the island after winning two of three games at the 2002 San Juan Shootout. The Huskies lost to Troy State in the first game before rallying for two wins over Sacred Heart and James Madison.

Northeastern's Charlotte Connection
Northeastern University opened a regional graduate campus in Charlotte, N.C., in October 2011, as part of a plan to launch a system of regional cam­puses in selected Amer­ican cities. NU has since added a graduate campus in Seattle, Wash.

In the birthplace of a legend
Northeastern legend José Juan Barea was born and raised in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. After a senior season at Miami Christian School, Barea was named to Florida's All-State team and was Miami-Dade's Player of the Year. Barea was a four-year letterwinner at Northeastern. As a junior and senior, he was named a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award, given to the nation's best point guard. He was selected to the All-America East First Team twice and, following NU's move to the Colonial Athletic Association, won CAA Player of the Year as a senior. Barea's name appears throughout the Northeastern record book. He ranks in the top three of at least 15 different statistical categories. He finished his career as the Huskies' second all-time leading scorer with 2,209 points, behind only legendary Reggie Lewis. He also left Northeastern as the second all-time leader in assists (721) and leader in 3-pointers made (255). Barea has enjoyed great success, both in the professional ranks and in international competition. He reached the pinnacle of the game in 2011, when he helped lead the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA title. Dallas coach Rick Carlisle inserted Barea into the starting lineup before Game 4 of the Finals. That move proved to be a turning point in the series. Dallas went a perfect 3-0 with Barea as a starter, and the team's offensive production improved by an average of 13 points per game. For the series, Barea averaged 8.8 points and 3.2 assists per game. His numbers over the final three games, all of which he started, were even more impressive--13.3 points and 4.7 assists. Barea now plays for the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves.

In-season tournament success
Northeastern has claimed 10 in-season tournament titles. The Huskies' most recent in-season title came at the 2009 Cable Car Classic in Santa Clara. Last season, the Huskies defeated UC Riverside and Belmont en route to the championship game of the Great Alaska Shootout before losing to Charlotte.

Career night for Reggie
While Eatherton was posting a double-double, fellow front-court mate Reggie Spencer was putting together a record night of his own at Stony Brook on Nov. 13. The junior from Tuscaloosa, Ala., tied a career high with 18 points. He hit seven field goals and went a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Spencer narrowly missed a double-double of his own with eight rebounds.

Crashing the boards
For the first time since Nov. 30, 2011, Northeastern collected 40 or more rebounds in consecutive games. The Huskies grabbed 41 caroms in the opener against Boston University and 40 on Nov. 13 at Stony Brook.

Stahl's Garden party
Zach Stahl led NU with 16 points—a career high—in the season-opener against Boston University at TD Garden. Stahl, who played 26 minutes, also registered a career high for rebounds, with eight.

Solid start for rookie T.J. Williams
Freshman T.J. Williams turned in an impressive performance in his Northeastern debut. The 6'3 guard scored eight points, grabbed six rebounds, and dished one assist on Nov. 10 at TD Garden. Williams earned 26 minutes of playing time, equaling the most by a non-starter in the game. The Texan earned multiple trips to the free throw line, connecting on 80 percent (4-5) of his attempts.

A look back at NU's banner year
Northeastern, which had established itself as an upper-echelon team in the competitive Colonial Athletic Association, broke through for its first CAA regular-season title in eight seasons as a conference member. The league title—the first for the Red and Black in 20 years—was the 11th all-time for the tradition-rich program. The Huskies collected 20 wins, equaling the best win total in eight years, and returned to the postseason for the third time in five years. The season also featured the greatest comeback in Northeastern basketball history—an improbable 24-point rally to defeat George Mason in the CAA tournament semifinals—and the program's first appearance in the CAA tournament championship game. Individual achievements, including All-CAA and national accolades, coach of the year awards, and school-record performances, also highlighted a memorable year on Huntington Avenue.

Ford earns preseason All-CAA honors
Northeastern junior forward Quincy Ford was named to the preseason All-CAA men's basketball second team by a vote of the conference's coaches, media relations directors and media members. This marks the second consecutive season Ford has garnered preseason honors. The preseason nod comes on the heels of a standout sophomore season. The 6'8 junior forward was named to the All-CAA third team a year ago. He played in all 33 games and earned 32 starts for the Huskies. He ranked third on the team in scoring (12.2 ppg), second in rebounding (5.8 rpg), second in blocks and third in steals. The versatile swingman shot 41 percent from the floor, 35 percent from 3-point range, and 79 percent from the free-throw line. As a freshman in 2011-12, Ford turned heads, and was named to the CAA All-Rookie team and earned a spot on the 2012 CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Freshman All-America team.

NU picked sixth in CAA preseason poll
Northeastern, which stormed to a 14-4 conference record and regular-season championship a year ago, was picked sixth in the CAA preseason poll. Bill Coen's Huskies return eight players, including three starters, from that championship team. NU was tabbed fifth in last year's preseason poll before sprinting to its first CAA title since joining the conference in 2005. Towson, which tied for second place a year ago, earned the top spot in the poll, followed by Drexel, College of Charleston, Delaware, and William & Mary. James Madison, last year's tournament champion, was picked seventh, followed by UNCW and Hofstra.

The nation takes notice
On the heels of a 20-win campaign and a CAA regular-season title, Northeastern earned the attention of the voters of the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll. The Huskies, who advanced to postseason play for the third time in five seasons a year ago, received votes in the preseason poll.

NU earns 100-percent in latest GSR
The NCAA announced the Graduation Success Rate (GSR) and Federal Graduation Rate data for the 2003-06 cohort for all Division I institutions. The report, part of the annual NCAA Division I Academic Performance Program, supported a continuing trend of academic success achieved by Northeastern student-athletes. Collectively, Northeastern student-athletes earned a GSR two percentage points higher than the national average for Division I institutions without football, and four percentage points higher than the overall Division I average. Most impressive were the performances of the men's and women's basketball programs, which both achieved a 100-percent success rate. The men's average is a remarkable 27 percent higher than the national average for Division I non-football schools, and 30 percent higher than the overall Division I rate.

Making an impact in the community
Head coach Bill Coen, on Oct. 12, signed 14-year-old Max Plansky to a national letter of intent. Plansky, from nearby Danvers, Mass., committed to the Huskies in front of a room full of friends, family, and future teammates at Cabot Center on the Northeastern campus. Plansky joined the Northeastern basketball family through Team IMPACT, a program dedicated to improving the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses. "Max has such a positive attitude and he knows what it means to be a good teammate," Coen remarked. "He faces adversity everyday with a smile, possesses a never-give-up attitude, and is committed to improving everyday. He is someone who will make each one of us better people."

Two more Huskies ink pro contracts; nine former Coen players go pro
Jonathan Lee and Dinko Marshavelski each signed professional contracts following NU's CAA championship season in 2012-13. Marshavelski, who signed a contract with Cocinas.com Logrono (Spain - LEB Gold) in October, became the ninth of Bill Coen's former Huskies to earn a professional contract. Lee, who left Huntington Avenue as one of the most proficient 3-point shooter in program history, signed a deal with the Gmunden Swans in Austria.

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 eighth on the CAA's list of all-time winningest coaches. He is one of just three 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, 2002-13) 148
3. Bruiser Flint (Drexel, 2002-present) 137 *
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. Bill Coen (Northeastern, 2006-present) 78 *
9. Jeff Capel, Jr. (ODU, 1995-2001) 77
10. Tony Shaver (William & Mary, 2003-present) 67 *
* Active

Coen climbs NU wins ladder
Bill Coen continues to lead a basketball renaissance in Boston. On Jan. 12, with a 70-59 win at Towson, Coen became just the fourth coach in the history of NU basketball to win 100 career games. Now in his eighth season, Coen ranks fourth all-time at NU in career wins.

NU's 100-game winners
Jim Calhoun - 250-137 (.646) - 1972-86, 14 years
Dick Dukeshire - 204-100 (.671) - 1958-71, 13 years
Karl Fogel - 131-103 (.560) - 1986-94, 8 years
Bill Coen - 113-114 (.498) - 2006-present, 8 years

Huskies to make nine TV appearances
Northeastern will make at least nine television appearances during the 2013-14 regular season, the CAA announced on Oct. 22 at its media day event in Baltimore, Md. The Huskies' TV package includes no fewer than four nationally-televised match ups. In addition, Northeastern will again offer a free, HD stream of every home game on GoNU.com/xstream.

Welcome, David McLaughlin
Former Stonehill College head coach David McLaughlin joined the NU coaching staff in the offseason. McLaughlin, Stonehill's all-time wins leader, was named associate head coach. "I am thrilled to welcome David McLaughlin to our staff," Coen said at the time of his hire. "David possesses the character, knowledge, skill, and work ethic that we look for in members of our staff. He is an energetic recruiter and a talented coach whose Stonehill student-athletes achieved great success on the court and in the classroom. His record speaks for itself. He has an outstanding reputation and is universally respected throughout the basketball profession." McLaughlin guided Stonehill to six 20 win seasons, including a program-record 27 victories during the team's 2005-06 NCAA Division II national semifinal run; five NCAA tournament bids, including a school-record four-straight bids from 2008 to 2012; two east regional championships; the program's first NE-10 tournament championship since 1989; and the NE-10 regular season title in 2009-10.

Road warriors: One of nation's four best
Northeastern finished the 2012-13 season with the nation's fourth best road winning percentage (.833). The Huskies went 10-2 in true road games, including an 8-1 mark in conference road games.

Win total best since 2009-10
Northeastern's 20 overall wins and 14 CAA wins in 2012-13 were the most since 2009-10, when the Huskies went 20-13, 14-4 CAA, and earned an NIT appearance.

Winning the close ones
In 2012-13, Coach Bill Coen's squad owned an impressive 13-4 record in games decided by five points or less. The Huskies tied school records for most overtime games played and won at 4-1.

Historic Matthews Arena
Northeastern's home court is historic Matthews Arena, the world's oldest multi-purpose athletic facility. The arena, the original home of the Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins, is in its 104th year of operation. The Huskies have enjoyed great success on their home floor. They appeared at the arena as far back as 1936, but made the arena their permanent home from 1981 to 1996 and again from 2005 to present. From 1985 to 1987, the Huskies put together a school-record 38-game winning streak at the arena. The century-old gem underwent a major renovation three years ago, which added state-of-the-art amenities while preserving its rich character.

The nation's oldest active men's basketball arenas
1. Matthews Arena – Northeastern (April 16, 1910)
2. Rose Hill Gym – Fordham (Jan. 16, 1925)
3. Lavietes Pavilion – Harvard (1926)
4. The Palestra –Penn (Jan. 1, 1927)
5. Hec Edmundson Pavilion – Washington (Dec. 27, 1927)
6. Williams Arena – Minnesota (Feb. 4, 1928)
7. Hinkle Fieldhouse – Butler (March 7, 1928)
8. Payne Whitney Gym – Yale (Dec. 10, 1932)
9. Fogelman Arena – Tulane (Dec. 15, 1933)
10. Haas Pavilion – California (1933)
11. Municipal Auditorium – UMKC (1935)
12. Gallagher-Iba Arena – Oklahoma State (Dec. 9, 1938)
13. Lundholm Gym – New Hampshire (1938)
14. McAlister Field House – The Citadel (1939)
15. Cameron Indoor Stadium – Duke (Jan. 6, 1940)
List compiled by Tulane athletic communications

Stay connected
Northeastern Athletics:
@GoNUathletics  //  facebook.com/GoNUathletics
Northeastern Men's Basketball:
@GoNUmbasketball  //  facebook.com/GoNUmbasketball

Join the conversation
Fans and members of the media are encouraged to use #GoNU in tweets to join the Twitter conversation.

Up next
Northeastern will face either Michigan or Florida State in the final round of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off on Nov. 24. The Huskies have never played Florida State and are 0-1 all-time against Michigan.


Tweets by @GoNUmbasketball .