BOSTON — Northeastern will return to historic Matthews Arena for the first time in 2013-14 when it renews its rivalry with crosstown foe Harvard on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. The Huskies and Crimson last met on Dec. 10, 2008, when NU claimed a 76-71 double-overtime road victory.


Story lines
• This year's meeting between Northeastern and Harvard will be the 50th in the series, with the Crimson leading, 35-14. The Huskies have won the previous two head-to-head match-ups and three of the last four.

• Junior Scott Eatherton continues to rank among the national leaders in double-doubles. The 6-8 junior is averaging 16.3 points and 10.6 rebounds per game and is one of just nine players nationally with five our more double-doubles this season. 

• Northeastern has out-rebounded its opponent in six of seven games this season. The Huskies accomplished the feat only nine times in 30 games a year ago.

• Wednesday's game marks the fourth time in eight games this season that Northeastern will face a team that is either ranked or receiving votes in the AP or USA Today Coaches poll.

• David Walker has been a marathon man for the Huskies, averaging 38.6 minutes per game. The next closest NU player is Scott Eatherton at 29.7 mpg.

About the Huskies
Northeastern returns to historic Matthews Arena for the first time in 2013-14. The Huskies have played six of eight games away from Huntington Avenue, including three games in Puerto Rico that included a signature win over Georgetown (63-56). NU, the defending CAA regular-season champion, enters Wednesday's game at 2-5, with two of those losses by three points or less. This year's squad is led by junior forward Scott Eatherton, who is averaging a double-double at 16.3 ppg and 10.6 rpg. Sophomore David Walker, who posted a career-high 19 points on Friday at VCU, is second in scoring at  12.3 ppg and leads the team in assists (2.7 apg) and minutes (38.6 mpg). Junior Reggie Spencer is third in scoring (10.3) and second in rebounding (7.0 rpg).

Notables from the last time out
Notes of interest from Northeastern's most recent game, a 79-66 loss at No. 24 VCU:
• David Walker scored a career-high 19 points
• 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 were its fewest in a game since March 10, 2013 (21 vs. George Mason)

Double me up, Scotty
Junior transfer Scott Eatherton continues to rank among the national leaders in double-doubles. The 6-8 junior is one of just nine players nationally with five our more double-doubles this season. He registered his fifth double-double—and third in a row at the time—on Nov. 24 with 21 points and 15 rebounds against Florida State. He is the first NU player to post three straight double-doubles since Shawn James had four in a row in February 2006. Eatherton's double-double in the season opener against Boston University 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).

Walker pours in 19 to set career mark
Sophomore David Walker scored a career-high 19 points on Nov. 29 at VCU. The Ohio native added two rebounds, two assists, and two steals while playing 39 minutes. Walker has scored in double figures in five of Northeastern's seven games this season.

Williams undaunted, ties career high
Freshman T.J. Williams was undaunted by VCU's pressure defense on Nov. 29 in Richmond. The rookie, who earned his third consecutive start, tied a career high with 12 points while shooting an impressive 83 percent (5-6) from the floor. The Texan tied for the team lead with four assists and also collected a steal in 34 minutes of action.

Eatherton earns CAA Player of the Week
Northeastern junior forward Scott Eatherton was named CAA Men's Basketball Player of the Week on Nov. 25 after three standout performances at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. He averaged 18.3 points and 12.0 rebounds while shooting 64.5 percent from the floor as Northeastern placed fourth at the Tip-Off. The junior forward posted double-doubles in all three games, tallying 12 points and 10 rebounds in 18 minutes of a 63-56 win over Georgetown, 22 points and 11 rebounds versus Charlotte, and 21 points and 15 boards in a narrow 62-60 setback to Florida State. He also contributed five blocks, four assists and two steals on the weekend. Eatherton earned all-tournament honors in San Juan and became just the ninth player in tournament history to average a double-double at the event.

Cleaning the glass
Northeastern has out-rebounded its opponents in six of seven games this season. The Huskies accomplished the feat only nine times in 30 games a year ago. NU owns a +3.4 rebounding margin. For the first time since Nov. 30, 2011, Northeastern collected 40 or more rebounds in consecutive games, grabbing 41 caroms in the opener against Boston University and 40 on Nov. 13 at Stony Brook.

NU gains signature win over Georgetown
Northeastern rallied from a 14-point second-half deficit to defeat Georgetown, 63-56, on Nov. 21 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 a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards in the win over the Hoyas.

Spencer hits career high versus Hoyas
Junior forward Reggie Spencer tied a career high with 18 points to lead all scorers in Northeastern's 63-56 win over Georgetown on Nov. 21. He 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.

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 Nov. 21 for their first major rally of the 2013-14 season. NU also came back from 13 down to tie Charlotte a day later, before losing 86-77.

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.

Reggie's big night
While Scott 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, a mark he again equalled on Nov, 21 against Georgetown. He hit seven field goals and went a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line at Stony Brook. Spencer narrowly missed a double-double of his own with eight rebounds.

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 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 - 113-117 (.491) - 2006-present, 8 years

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

Huskies to make 10 TV appearances
Northeastern will make at least 10 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

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Up next
Northeastern will play consecutive home games for the first time since Feb. 2, 2013, when it welcomes UAB to Matthews Arena on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Blazers, who defeated the Huskies last season in Birmingham, are fresh off a  63-59 upset of No. 16 North Carolina.


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