Box Score   |  Post-game press conference (video)

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Freshman T.J. Williams tallied 16 points to lead Northeastern in scoring for the second straight game, but the Huskies could not overcome 25 points from Marcus Thornton and 10 William & Mary 3-pointers in an 81-67 loss on Saturday in CAA men's basketball action.

Williams (Pflugerville, Texas), who scored a career-high 17 in NU's last outing, scored 11 second-half points, including a 3-pointer from the right wing that pulled NU (9-20, 6-9 CAA) to within five, 53-48, with 9:30 remaining in the game. But William & Mary (17-10, 9-5 CAA) responded with a dominating 22-9 run to seize a game-high 18-point lead and never looked back.

Sophomore David Walker (Stow, Ohio) scored 12 points—all in the second half—and Hampton Roads native Demetrius Pollard (Virginia Beach, Va.) added 10 to join Williams in double figures. Zach Stahl (Chanhassen, Minn.) narrowly missed a double-double with a game-best 10 rebounds to go with nine points. Williams also tied for the game-high with five assists.

For the Tribe, Thornton shot a blistering 5-of-7 from beyond the arc en route to 25 points. Tim Rusthoven added 12 points and Brandon Britt chipped in with 11.

Eatherton, who saw limited action due to early foul trouble, put the Huskies on the board with a three-point play to answer four early Tribe points. Thornton responded with back-to-back threes—two of six first half triples for W&M. Williams, on the heels of his career performance on Thursday, willed his way to two layups to keep the Huskies close early.

After a Pollard three from the right corner, W&M strung together eight straight points to take a 22-10 lead with 10 minutes left in the half.

Stahl snapped the scoring drought for the Huskies with a layup that sparked a 13-6 run. The sophomore then capped the run with six straight points to cut the margin to five, 28-23, with just over two minutes remaining before halftime. Jimmy Marshall (Richmond, Va.), playing in his native Virginia, drained one of his two threes during the run.

Thornton hit a jumper to settle the Tribe, then connected on a three off an offensive rebound to push the margin back to 10. Reggie Spencer (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) hit 1-of-2 free throws to cut the NU deficit to nine, 33-24, at the half.

Walker, held scoreless in the first half, wasted little time getting involved after the break, hitting a jumper in the paint on NU's first possession. The momentum, though, was short-lived, as W&M scored eight of the next 10 points to take a 41-28 advantage less than three minutes in.

Pollard ended the Tribe run with a three and Walker, who scored 10 of NU's first 15 second-half points, added another triple to close the margin to single digits. Walker followed two Rusthoven free throws with a layup and, after four straight W&M points, dialed in again from long range to single-handedly keep the Huskies within striking distance.

Spencer then got in on the action for NU, scoring the Huskies' next six points over a two-minute span. Williams followed with a three from the right wing to pull NU to its closest point since late in the first half, 53-48 with 9:30 to go.

But again, it was Thornton who had the answer for W&M, hitting a 3-pointer and assisting on a Rusthoven layup to push the lead back to double digits. NU twice closed to within single digits, but another Thornton triple—this one at the 6:27 mark—proved to be the dagger. The shot handed W&M a 63-52 lead and the Huskies never got closer than 10 the rest of the way.

For the game, Northeastern shot 43 percent (25-58) from the floor, 39 percent (7-18) from 3-point range, and 59 percent (10-17) from the line. William & Mary connected on 54 percent (30-56) from the field, 43 percent (10-23) from beyond the arc, and 61 percent (11-18) from the charity stripe. The Tribe's 10 3-pointers tied for the second-most by an NU opponent this season. W&M won the rebounding battle, 36-33.

Northeastern will take a week off between games before welcoming Drexel to historic Matthews Arena on Saturday, March 1, at 1 p.m. in the regular-season finale for both programs. The Huskies will honor this year's lone senior, Chris Avenant, before the game. For ticket information, visit GoNU.com/tickets.

Game notes
> William & Mary swept the season series to even the all-time series, 8-8
> Freshman T.J. Williams (16 points) led NU in scoring for the second straight game; he posted a career-best 17 points on Thursday against Towson
> David Walker (12 points) scored in double figures for the eighth time in nine games and the 12th time in 15 CAA games
> Northeastern surrendered 48 second-half points for the second consecutive game, tying the mark for the most points in a half by an NU opponent this season
> Foul trouble kept NU's leading scorer Scott Eatherton sidelined for much of the game; Eatherton played just 18 minutes, tied for second fewest this season
> Zach Stahl grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds, one shy of his career high
> Northeastern dropped to 0-9 this season when allowing an opponent to shoot 50 percent or better
> Saturday's loss assures Northeastern of a losing record in CAA play for just the second time under head coach Bill Coen


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