Box Score
Post-game press conference
RICHMOND, Va. —
David Walker scored a career-high 19 points to lead four Northeastern players in double figures, but it wasn't enough as the Huskies lost at VCU, 79-66, on Friday night in Richmond.
Northeastern (2-5) led VCU (5-2) by as many as five points, and trailed by only two with less than 10 minutes remaining. But a four-point play by Treveon Graham, who was fouled on a made 3-pointer, pushed the lead to eight with 8:44 to play and the Rams never looked back.
VCU held Northeastern without a field goal over the game's final 9:55, outscoring the Huskies 24-13 during the span.
Walker, who added two assists and two steals in 39 minutes, was joined in double figures by
Scott Eatherton (Hershey, Pa.) with 17,
T.J. Williams (Pflugerville, Texas) with a career-high-tying 12, and
Zach Stahl (Chanhassen, Minn.) with 11.
Derrico Peck (Woodstock, Ga.) added five points and
Reggie Spencer (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) two for the Huskies.
Graham scored 24 points for VCU to lead all scorers. The junior tied a career high with four 3-pointers, all in the second half. Juvonte Reddic registered a double-double with 17 points and 10 boards, while Melvin Johnson contributed 13 points.
Northeastern was out-rebounded for the first time this season, 31-26.
The Huskies were undaunted by the early VCU pressure and a sold-out Siegel Center crowd. The game's first 10 minutes featured three ties and two lead changes before an 8-1 spurt gave VCU a 26-17 lead with seven minutes remaining in the half.
Northeastern, though, responded by ripping off a 17-3 run to take a 34-29 lead with just over one minute showing on the first-half clock. Walker ignited the rally with a personal 8-0 run on a layup, 3-pointer, and traditional three-point play. Graham converted a lay-in for the Rams, but Williams countered for NU with a layup of his own. Reddic hit one of two from the line before Walker dialed in again from beyond the arc. Stahl then hit a layup and Williams capped the run with another finish at the rim.
VCU, however, rattled off eight straight points in the final minute to take a 37-34 lead at the break.
VCU nudged out to a six-point lead five minutes into the second half, before an 8-2 NU run leveled the score at 49-49 with 13:11 remaining. Stahl hit a jumper and Eatherton scored twice before Williams took a steal the length of the floor for a lay-in to cap the run and tie the game.
Brandenberg and Graham sandwiched 3-pointers around a Stahl jumper to push the margin to four with just over 12 minutes to play. After nearly two-minutes of scoreless action, Walker threw down a dunk that cut the lead to two and appeared to give NU momentum. The basket, though, proved to be the Huskies' last of the game. Johnson settled the Rams with a layup and Graham followed with the four-point play that turned the game.
NU went 13-for-16 from the free throw line down the stretch but could not keep pace with the Rams.
For the game, Northeastern shot 50 percent (23-46) from the floor, 25 percent (2-8) from 3-point range, and 72 percent (18-25) from the free-throw line. VCU hit 55 percent (33-60) of its shot attempts, 27 percent (6-22) from beyond the arc, and 41 percent (7-17) from the line.
The Huskies will return to Matthews Arena for the first time in 2013-14 when they welcome crosstown rival Harvard on Wednesday, Dec. 4. Tip-off with the Crimson is set for 7 p.m. For ticket information, visit GoNU.com/tickets.
GAME NOTES
> Sophomore
David Walker scored a career-high 19 points
> Freshman
T.J. Williams tied a career high with 12 points
>
Scott Eatherton scored 17 points for his fifth double-figure scoring effort in six games
> Northeastern was out-rebounded for the first time this season (31-26)
> VCU held NU without a field goal over the final 9:55 of play
> Northeastern shot a season-best 72 percent from the free throw line
> NU's 26 rebounds are its fewest in a game since March 10, 2013 (21 vs. George Mason)
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