BOSTON — The Northeastern men's basketball will look to snap a two-game losing streak on Saturday when it visits the College of Charleston. The Huskies are making their first-ever trip to Charleston and will look to avoid their first three-game slide in CAA play in more than two years. CofC won the only prior meeting in the series, 58-49, on Jan. 13 in Boston. Tip-off at TD Arena is set for 7 p.m. on MyTV Charleston/CSS.
Story lines
• Northeastern will make its first-ever visit to the College of Charleston on Saturday. Tip-off at TD Arena is set for 7 p.m. The Cougars defeated the Huskies, 58-49, on Jan. 13 in Boston in the only prior meeting between the programs.
• Northeastern has been hot and cold of late. The Huskies have scored 70 or more points in three of their last six games. During that span, though, NU has sandwiched in a 46-point game against James Madison and a season-low 45-point performance on Thursday at UNCW. NU has averaged 68.6 points per game in its five CAA victories and 62.1 ppg in its seven conference losses.
• NU will look to snap its two-game losing streak on Saturday. The Huskies have not lost three consecutive CAA games in more than two years (Feb. 11, 2012).
•
Scott Eatherton has vaulted himself into the CAA Player of the Year conversation. The versatile big man has scored in double figures in 11 of the last 12 games and 23 of NU's 26 outings this season. He continues to lead the nation in double-doubles with 16, and ranks nationally in a remarkable 13 statistical categories, including five top-50 rankings. He also ranks in the top three in the CAA in more statistical categories than any other player, and is the most efficient scorer among the CAA's top 10 scorers.
• Freshman
T.J. Williams earned CAA Rookie of the Week honors for his play last week. Williams ranks sixth in freshman scoring in the league. In CAA games, he is shooting 40 percent from 3-point range and holds a +1.7 assist-to-turnover ratio.
About the Huskies
Bill Coen's squad played one of the nation's toughest non-conference schedules, highlighted by a 63-56 win over Georgetown. Despite the overall record, the Huskies have been highly competitive, and have led or been tied in the second half in all but four games.
Scott Eatherton, who leads the nation in double-doubles, is making a strong case for CAA Player of the Year. He ranks in the top three in the CAA in six categories and leads NU with 15.9 ppg and 10.3 rpg.
David Walker is second in scoring (11.7), while
Reggie Spencer is second in rebounding (7.0) and
Demetrius Pollard is third in scoring (9.3).
Notables from the last time out
Notes of interest from Northeastern's most recent game, a 55-45 loss at UNCW:
> Northeastern and UNCW split the season series for the second straight year; NU leads the all-time series, 8-6
>
Scott Eatherton collected his NCAA leading 16th double-double with 10 points and a career-high-tying 16 rebounds
>
David Walker scored 18 points, just two off his career high, for his ninth double-figure scoring game in the last 12 games
> NU scored a season-low 45 points; fewest points since scoring 43 points at Alabama on March 19, 2013 in the NIT
> NU's free-throw percentage (28.6, 4-14) was its worst since Jan. 5, 2002 (25.0, 3-12, at Hartford)
Charleston: A look at the series
Northeastern will make its first-ever trip to the College of Charleston on Saturday. The Cougars won the first meeting in the series last month, on Jan. 13, in Boston. (A game-by-game series history can be found on page four of the game notes.)
When last we met
On Jan. 13, in the first-ever meeting between Northeastern and Charleston,
Scott Eatherton registered a double-double before halftime en route to 19 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. Northeastern, though, could not overcome a 37-percent shooting performance in the 58-49 loss. Anthony Thomas led Charleston with 16 points, nine rebounds and five assists, while Willis Hall contributed a double-double with 14 points and 13 boards. Hall connected on all four of his three-point attempts as the Cougars shot 53-percent (8-for-15) from beyond the arc.
Getting defensive
Northeastern has held six of its last 10 opponents to 58 or fewer points. NU is 11-3 over the last two seasons, and 20-5 over the last three years, when holding an opponent to 59 or fewer points. Under Coen, the Huskies are 62-20 (.756) when keeping opponents under the 60-point mark. NU ranks third in the CAA in scoring defense.
Hot and cold
Northeastern has scored 70 or more points in three of its last six games. During that span, though, the Huskies have sandwiched in a 46-point game against James Madison and a season-low 45-point performance on Thursday at UNCW. NU has averaged 68.6 points per game in its five CAA victories and 62.1 ppg in its seven conference losses.
Williams earns CAA Rookie of the Week
Freshman
T.J. Williams was named CAA Rookie of the Week after posting a pair of career performances last week. The Pflugerville, Texas, native averaged 12.0 points and 4.5 assists in his two games for the Huskies last week. He tied a career high with 12 points and had three assists in an 81-73 victory over Hofstra, and followed with 12 points and a career-best six assists in an 82-70 setback to William & Mary. For the week, he shot 50 percent (8-16) from the floor, including 67 percent from 3-point range.
Eatherton's Double-double distinction
Scott Eatherton, the NCAA's double-double leader with 16, reached double-figure points and rebounds before halftime on Jan. 13 against the College of Charleston—the first NU player to do so in more than a decade. He posted four straight double-doubles from Dec. 4 to Dec. 21 to become the first NU player to accomplish the feat since Shawn James in February 2006.
Oh, so close
Northeastern has been competitive against one of the nation's toughest schedules. Of the Huskies' 26 games, 19 have been decided by 10 points or less, and 12 have been decided by five or fewer points. NU was an impressive 13-4 in games decided by five points or less a season ago. This year's young Huskies are 3-9 in such games.
STATING THE CASE
Scott Eatherton: Candidate for CAA Player of the Year
Eatherton leads nation in double-doubles, ranks nationally in 13 categories
Scott Eatherton collected his NCAA-leading 16th double-double on Feb. 13 at UNCW. He ranks nationally in 13 categories, including five top-50 rankings.
Eatherton is CAA's most efficient scorer
Of the CAA's 10 leading scorers, Eatherton is the most efficient. His 1.15 points-per-attempt (points from field/FGA) clip ranks first in the CAA.
Eatherton most-frequently ranked in CAA
Eatherton ranks in the top three in more statistical categories than any other player in the CAA. He ranks first in two categories, holds the number two spot in three, and the number three spot in one.
T.J. Williams: Candidate for CAA All-Rookie honors
Williams among CAA's best freshmen
T.J. Williams entered the week as one of only seven freshmen in the CAA to rank in the top 10 in both freshman scoring and freshman rebounding. In CAA games, he is shooting 40 percent from 3-point range and holds a +1.7 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Williams sparks second-half surge
In NU's 27-4 second-half run against William & Mary on Feb. 8, Williams had a hand in 21 of the Huskies' 27 points—scoring 11 and assisting on 10.
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Up next
Northeastern will return home to historic Matthews Arena to host Towson on Thursday, Feb. 20. The game will tip off at 7 p.m., and can be viewed live on Comcast SportsNet (CSN-MA+, CSN-P, CSN-NE, CSS (TD), SNY (TD)). For ticket information, visit
GoNU.com/tickets.
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