Box Score |  Walker FSU Dunk Clips

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—The Northeastern men's basketball team defeated Florida State, 76-73, on Tuesday night in Tallahassee. David Walker (Stow, Ohio) scored 22 points to lead the Huskies, who improved to 2-0, while Quincy Ford (St. Petersburg, Florida) and Scott Eatherton (Hersey, Pennsylvania) added 18 and 16, respectively.

The Huskies, who led for much of the second half, did not flinch in the face of a second-half Seminoles rally. FSU (1-1) used a 14-2 run midway through the half to take a momentary five-point lead. Northeastern answered with six straight points to regain the lead, then ripped off a 12-4 run late in the half to secure the win.

The victory was the first over an Atlantic Coast Conference school in program history. (NU defeated current ACC schools Boston College and Louisville before they were conference members.) The victory avenged a narrow 62-60 loss to Florida State last season in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off.

"I'm just very proud of my team," said head coach Bill Coen, following the win. "Florida State applies great defensive pressure, and I thought we maintained our composure through much of the game. I have tremendous respect for Florida State and Coach Hamilton. To challenge ourselves against this level of competition and receive positive results is a great step forward for our program."

Walker, who set a career high with 23 points on Sunday in a victory over Boston University, was again impressive, scoring 22 on 70 percent shooting (7-of-10). The junior guard was a perfect 4-for-4 from 3-point range. Ford, who was returning home to his native Florida, also hit four threes to go with seven rebounds and a career-high-tying four assists.

"It felt good to be home," Ford commented following the game. "I didn't think it would be this cold though," he said in reference to the unseasonably cool Florida weather, drawing laughs from members of the media. "It was just great to see so many family members and friends."

Collectively, the Huskies shot 54 percent (28-52) on the night, including 60 percent (9-15) from long range, and 79 percent (11-14) from the free throw line. In a display of team basketball, NU registered 18 assists on 28 baskets.

The Seminoles' Aaron Thomas led all scorers with 24 points. Brandon Montay tallied 16 and Phil Cofer added 14 to give the hosts three players in double figures.

Florida State capitalized on a slow start by NU to take an early nine-point lead, but Walker answered with three 3-pointers and a dunk in transition, and the Huskies two Texans—T.J. Williams and Devon Begley—added layups as the visitors surged to a three-point lead.  The Seminoles regained a three-point lead late in the half, but another Walker triple and a Ford layup gave the Red and Black a 40-38 edge at the break.

Northeastern maintained momentum when Ford dialed in from deep in the right corner on the opening possession of the second half. NU countered every FSU move and built its largest lead of the game—49-42—when Walker hit three free throws after being fouled at the top of the key with 17 minutes to play.

Florida State then responded with its best offensive sequence of the game, outscoring the Huskies 14-2 in just over three minutes to take a 56-51 lead. Coen's squad, though, was undaunted. NU rattled off six straight points on two Ford jumpers and a Begley basket to regain the lead.

Both teams then went cold and played through a four-minute scoring drought, until Cofer converted two free throws and a dunk in transition for the Seminoles.

Trailing by three with under five minutes to play, Northeastern put together an impressive three-minute performance that sealed the victory. Ford ignited a 12-4 run with a three and Eatherton followed with a layup. FSU sandwiched baskets around a traditional three-point play by Walker, before Reggie Spencer (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) hit a clutch baseline jumper off a feed from Begley. Eatherton then closed the run with a layup.

The Seminoles would not go quietly, though, and closed to within one point in the final 30 seconds. Begley hit two free throws and the Huntington Hounds locked down defensively to salt the game away.

Northeastern will return to action on Saturday when it travels to Mohegan Sun Arena to face Navy at 8 p.m. in the next round of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off.

GAME NOTES
> Northeastern defeated an ACC school for the first time in program history (NU also defeated current ACC members Boston College and Louisville before they joined the ACC)
> Northeastern opened the season 2-0 for the third time under Bill Coen (2012-13, 2010-11)
> David Walker scored a team-best 22 points just two days after pouring in a career-high 23 points in a 71-65 victory over Boston University
> Walker was a perfect 4-for-4 from 3-point range and now is 10-of-14 from beyond the arc on the season
> Quincy Ford scored 18 points—his highest point total since scoring 23 against UNCW on Feb. 16, 2013
> Ford tied a career high with four assists
> Scott Eatherton tallied 16 points on 50 percent shooting; he scored a game-high 21 points a year ago against the Seminoles for a two-game average of 18.5 against the ACC foe

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