BOSTON– The conference season is here for the Northeastern men's basketball team and they will begin action against Drexel on Friday night at 7 p.m. at Matthews Arena on NESNPlus.
This marks the third time the two teams have started the CAA season against each other.
Last year, the Huskies split the season series with Drexel, with each team winning on their home turf.
THREE THINGS TO KNOW:
- Slaying the Dragons
SCOUTING THE DRAGONS
- Drexel finished the non-conference season with a 6-7 record and are on a on the season and 5-9 in CAA play and are on a two-game losing streak heading into its conference opener with NU on Friday
- The Dragons are 1-4 on the road this season, with their lone victory coming at La Salle
- The team is 4-3 at the Dak picking up victories over Bryn Athyn, BU, Robert Morris and Loyola (Md.)
LEADING THE WAY
- Drexel is led by Troy Harper who is averaging 14.4points and 2.8 rebounds per game
- Also netting double figures are four more Dragons including Alihan Demir (14.2, 7.2rpg), Trevor John (12.3), Camren Wynter (11.1) and James Butler (10.1)
- Butler is leading the way with 7.9 rebounds per game
ALL-TIME SERIES
- This will be the 64th meeting between the two teams with Drexel holding the edge 39-24
- However, the Huskies have won six of the last seven contests and 10 of the last 13
LAST TIME VS. DREXEL
- Led by 24 points from Vasa Pusica and 16 from Anthony Green, Northeastern defeated Drexel in a wire-to-wire 75-69 victory at Matthews Arena
- Pusica had a game-high 17 points at the half to help the Huskies to a 10-point halftime advantage while Green finished with a career-best eight baskets
- His three second-half slams kept the momentum in the Huskies' favor as the team went on to avenge Drexel's win earlier this season
- With Drexel closing in on the Huskies and getting within three in the final minutes of action, 68-65, Pusica hit a three to put things just out of reach for the Dragons and give the Huskies their fourth-straight win
- Drexel was led by Tramaine Isabell who was held to just five points in the first half, but finished with 24 for the Dragons
- Isabell committed six turnovers in his 34 minutes of action, helping Shawn Occeus (seven points) to a career-high six steals, the most steals by a Husky since the 2011-12 season
- In CAA Openers
- Northeastern is 9-4 all-time in CAA openers
- The Huskies enter Friday's game on a six-game CAA opening win-streak
- The game against Drexel marks the third vs. the Dragons in a CAA season opener
- Overall, Northeastern is 27-12 in conference openers, 18-8 in the America East Conference
- The 2016-17 victory over William & Mary** was the largest victory (20 points) in a CAA opener and largest in a conference opener since a 74-54 victory over Hofstra in the two teams' America East opener on Dec. 10, 1994
| Date |
Opponent |
Result |
| 12/3/05 |
at James Madison |
W, 86-83 |
| 12/2/06 |
at UNCW |
W, 58-51 |
| 12/1/07 |
James Madison |
L, 65-68 |
| 12/6/08 |
at James Madison |
W, 60-55 |
| 12/5/09 |
at Drexel |
L, 47-49 |
| 12/4/10 |
Drexel (TD Garden) |
L, 58-63 |
| 12/3/11 |
Old Dominion |
L, 59-69 |
| 1/3/13 |
at George Mason |
W, 84-74 |
| 1/8/14 |
UNCW |
W, 79-68 + |
| 1/3/15 |
at Delaware |
W, 72-53 |
| 12/31/15 |
at Elon |
W, 86-79 |
| 12/31/16 |
William & Mary |
W, 84-64 ** |
| 12/30/17 |
at James Madison |
W, 81-70 |
- Turn of the Century
- In his return to the starting lineup last Friday against St. Bonaventure, Vasa Pusica played in his 100th career collegiate game, and his 39th in a Northeastern uniform
- Seniors Anthony Green and Jeremy Miller are also closing in on their 100th appearance in a Northeastern uniform
