Box Score   |  Game highlights (video)

BOSTON—In a game featuring 17 lead changes and eight ties, the Delaware Blue Hens used a late 8-0 surge to hold off the Northeastern men's basketball team, 74-70, in CAA action on Saturday afternoon at Matthews Arena.

Delaware's Devonne Pinkard sank a 3-pointer to break a 61-61 tie and start the decisive 8-0 run with 2:49 remaining. Northeastern (5-14, 2-3 CAA) closed the gap to one, 69-68, on a layup by sophomore Zach Stahl (Chanhassen, Minn.) with 23 seconds left, and trailed by three on the ensuing possession, but Stahl's short jumper was blocked and Delaware (12-7, 4-0 CAA) held on to remain unbeaten in conference play.

Sophomore David Walker (Stow, Ohio) led the Huskies with a career-high 20 points, while Stahl notched his first-career double-double on 12 points and a career-best 11 rebounds. Junior Scott Eatherton (Hershey, Pa.) added 15 points and fell one rebound shy of his 15th double-double of the season.

Devon Saddler led Delaware with 22 points and eight assists, while Carl Baptiste turned in a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds on 9-for-9 shooting. Davon Usher added 17 points and Kyle Anderson chipped in nine points on three 3-pointers as the Blue Hens picked up their sixth straight win.

The Huskies out-rebounded Delaware, 38-32, and turned the ball over a season-low four times, but shot just 39-percent from the field (25-of-65), compared to a 56-percent clip (28-for-50) for the Blue Hens.

Northeastern started the game just 2-for-13 from the field as Delaware raced out to a 19-9 lead in the opening nine minutes. The Blue Hens connected on eight of their first 12 shots, led by Baptiste, who knocked down five early baskets.

Needing a spark, the Huskies turned to redshirt senior Chris Avenant (Sacramento, Calif.), who hit an off-balance jumper in the lane to cut the deficit to 19-14. The basket energized the hosts as Northeastern went on a 7-0 run, capped by a layup and free-throw from Eatherton, to claim a 21-19 advantage with 7:15 left in the half.

The Huskies maintained their lead thanks to some clutch free-throw shooting and went ahead by five, 30-25, after a layup by Pollard with 34 seconds left in the half. Delaware had one final response, however, as Saddler hit a driving layup just before the halftime horn to cut the Huskies' lead to three at the break.

A wild second half ensued as both teams traded leads out of the locker room. Delaware asserted itself first, taking a 43-38 lead after a 3-pointer by Usher with 14 minutes to play.

Eatherton answered right back with a triple of his own, but Usher again responded with yet another 3-pointer to put Delaware ahead, 46-41.

Northeastern rallied to tie the score at 48-apiece with just under 11 minutes to play, and then grabbed the lead back two minutes later when Walker drilled a three from the left wing to put NU ahead 51-50.

The teams continued to trade leads until a triple from Saddler gave the Blue Hens a 61-58 edge with 4:48 remaining. After a free throw by Walker cut the deficit to two, Stahl stripped Saddler at midcourt and raced in for a game-tying layup at the 4:17 mark.

Northeastern's momentum was halted in the ensuing seconds, however, as a lengthy delay due to a shot clock malfunction gave the Blue Hens a chance to regroup.

And regroup they did. Out of the timeout, Pinkard drained his only shot of the game to put the Blue Hens up three, before a triple from Anderson and a pair of free throws pushed the advantage to 69-61. The Huskies missed four straight shots during the run, until a floater by Walker ended the dry-spell with 46 seconds to play.

With a chance to salt away the game at the foul line, Delaware did itself no favors by missing the front end of a pair of one-and-ones. Northeastern was quick to capitalize as Walker hit another three and Stahl connected on a layup to reduce the Delaware lead to one.

Delaware then hit a pair of free throws to go up, 71-68, with 18 seconds left. With a chance to tie the game, Northeastern came up empty on the ensuing possession when Stahl's floater in the lane was blocked by Baptiste.

After a free throw by Saddler extended the lead back to four, the Huskies were given one final chance when Walker hit a shot and was fouled with 1.4 seconds left. Walker intentionally missed the free throw, but since the ball did not strike the rim, the attempt was blown dead and Delaware was able to hang on for the win.

Game notes
> The Huskies suffered their eighth loss of the season by five points or less
> Walker's career-high 20 points surpassed his previous best of 19 set on Nov. 29 against VCU
> Stahl pulled down 10 or more rebounds for the first time in his career
> Northeastern fell to 3-4 this season when leading at the half


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