Box Score

PHILADELPHIA—For the second time in as many years Northeastern and Drexel waged an overtime thriller in Philadelphia. But unlike last year, the Dragons (9-6, 1-1 CAA) held off the visiting Huskies (4-12, 1-1), handing NU a 93-88 double-overtime setback at the Daskalakis Athletic Center.

Demetrius Pollard (Virginia Beach, Va.) nailed a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from the right wing—from nearly the same spot as Quincy Ford's heroic shot a year ago—to tie the game at the end of regulation. Pollard then scored the final three points in OT to send the game to a second extra frame.

Drexel scored the first six points in the second overtime to seize control of the game. The Huskies twice cut the lead to two and, on the second occasion, appeared to force a Dragons' turnover. But an errant pass that was headed out of bounds deflected off a game official to Drexel's Chris Fouch who nailed a 3-pointer with 36 seconds left that sealed the Huskies' fate.

Pollard led NU with 19 points and five assists. Scott Eatherton (Hershey, Pa.) scored 18 and grabbed a team-best 10 rebounds for his NCAA-leading 12th double-double. Marco Banegas-Flores (Boston, Mass.) tallied a career-high 17 points, including 10 after regulation. Reggie Spencer (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) added 10 points to give NU four players in double figures for the second straight game.

Chris Fouch scored a career-high 31 points to lead Drexel. Backcourt mate Frantz Massenat added a double-double of his own with 27 points and a game-high 12 boards. Tavon Allen added 18 points.

Trailing by seven at the break, the Huskies stormed to a 10-2 run out of the locker room to take a 36-35 lead. Banegas-Flores and Pollard ignited the run with 3-pointers before Spencer tallied back-to-back buckets to give the visitors their first lead since the opening minute of the game.

Five minutes later, with the game knotted at 43, NU ripped off a 7-0 run to take its largest lead of the ballgame. Spencer got things started with a jumper. Eatherton then collected a steal and dished to T.J. Williams (Pflugerville, Texas) who took it the length of the floor for a layup. Walker followed with a 3-pointer from the top of the key and the Huskies led 50-43 with 11 minutes to go.

Drexel, though, methodically worked its way back. The Dragons regained the lead, 61-58, on a rare four-point possession, the result of an intentional foul called against Pollard with just under 3:30 to play in regulation. NU quickly regained the lead on consecutive baskets by Eatheron. Drexel again answered and twice pushed the lead to three points in the game's final minute—the last time on two Massenat free throws with six seconds left—setting the stage for Pollard's dramatic buzzer-beater.

In the first overtime, NU struck first on a three-point play by Eatherton. Drexel answered with a 7-0 run to take a 74-70 advantage with three minutes left. Still trailing by three with 30 seconds to play, Pollard manufactured a three-point play on a driving layup and foul to draw the visitors even. On the Dragons' final possession, Eatherton threw a Massenat layup attempt into the front row to deny the Dragons and send the game to a second overtime.

Fouch hit a jumper to open the second OT and, following two Major Canady free throws, hit another jumper to give DU a six-point cushion. Banegas-Flores scored NU's first six points in the period to keep the Huskies within striking distance. Walker then converted a three-point play with just over a minute remaining to make it a two-point game. Then came the fateful bounce and Fouch's clutch three that put the game out of reach.

In the first half, Drexel moved to an early 7-2 lead before Northeastern responded with a 7-2 run of its own, capped by a three-point play by Pollard, to tie the game at nine. The Huskies again drew even with the Dragons, this time at 17-17, on a highlight-reel, alley-oop pass from Banegas-Flores to Derrico Peck (Woodstock, Ga.).

Drexel, though, responded with an 11-2 run, capped by an Allen three, to take a game-high nine-point lead, 28-19, with 4:33 to play in the half. The Huskies answered with five straight points to cut the margin to four before heading into the half down seven, 33-26.

Northeastern shot 51 percent (30-59) from the floor, 31 percent (5-16) from 3-point range, and 77 percent (23-30) from the line. Drexel connected on 47 percent (30-64) from the floor, 42 percent (8-19) from distance, and 81 percent (25-31) from the charity stripe. The Dragons won the rebounding battle, 37-35.

Northeastern will return to action on Monday when it welcomes the College of Charleston to Matthews Arena for the first time. The Cougars are in their inaugural CAA season. Tip-off on the NBC Sports Network is set for 7 p.m. The first 1,000 NU students in attendance will receive a free Paws bobble head. For ticket information, visit GoNU.com/tickets. NU students can reserve tickets on myNEU.

Game notes
> Northeastern had four players in double figures for the second straight game and the fifth time this season
> Northeastern lost an overtime game for just the second time in two seasons (5-2)
> Northeastern played consecutive overtime games for the first time since 1990 (Jan. 25, 1990 vs. Vermont; Jan. 27, 1990 vs. Hartford)
> Marco Banegas-Flores scored a career-high 17 points
> Scott Eatherton registered his NCAA-leading 12th double-double (18 points, 10 rebounds)
> Demetrius Pollard scored in double figures for the seventh time this season
> Reggie Spencer had at least five rebounds (6) for the ninth straight game and 14th of the last 15
> Northeastern had won its last four double-overtime games; its last double-overtime loss was Dec. 8, 1995, at New Hampshire (98-90)


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