Recap | Box Scores
Hempstead, NY --Sophomore guard Charles Jenkins (
Senior forward Arminas Urbutis (Kaunas, Lithuania) nearly registered his first career double-double, finishing with eight points and nine rebounds as the Pride snapped a two-game losing streak, improving to 11-7 overall and 3-4 in the CAA. The Huskies entered the contest tied with George Mason for first place in the Colonial Athletic Association at 6-0 but suffered their first conference loss as they fall to 11-6 and 6-1. Junior guard Matt Janning led Northeastern with 14 points, but missed his last six shots from the floor.
Northeastern battled back from a 40-33 second half deficit to tie the score at 49 on Chaisson Allen's low-post bank shot with 2:38 left. Junior forward Manny Adako followed a Jenkins missed free throw with a lay-up to put Northeastern ahead, 51-50, with 1:47 left on the clock.
Hofstra turned the ball over, and Northeastern was denied a chance to extend its lead as Janning missed a runner and junior forward Nkem Ojougboh was called for traveling on the offensive rebound. Jenkins then drove to the basket coast-to-coast and was hit by Adako, who fouled out with 45.6 seconds left. Jenkins hit both free throws to give Hofstra a 52-51 lead.
On the next possession, Dennison forced a key turnover, knocking his deflection off Allen to give the ball back to Hofstra nearly 10 seconds later. Senior guard Greg Johnson (Harlem, NY) was fouled on the ensuing inbounds pass and made both free throws, extending the lead to 54-51.
Janning was fouled next possession but could hit only one of two free throws with 18.7 seconds remaining. Dennison hit one of two free throws with 18 seconds left, still leaving it a one-possession game at 55-52.
Hofstra's perimeter defense negated Northeastern's final stand. Janning missed a three-pointer from the top of the key and Chris Alvarez couldn't convert on Northeastern's offensive rebound, missing a three-pointer from the sideline with 3.6 seconds left. Jenkins grabbed the rebound and drew the foul, making both free throws to secure the win.
Urbutis scored all of his points in the first half. The senior forward teamed with Dennison to provide scoring off the bench, with Hofstra's reserves outscoring their counterparts 17-11.
Urbutis' final points put the Pride up 26-21 with 1:30 remaining in the first half. Northeastern responded by generating an 8-0 run, capped off by Nkem Ojougboh lay-in off Chaisson Allen's high-arching pass at the buzzer, giving the Huskies a 29-26 halftime lead. Hofstra then answered in the second half, as Jenkins hit a three-pointer to put Hofstra ahead 35-33 with 13:17 left, sparking an 8-0 run to make it 40-33 at the 8:14 mark.
Jenkins shot 8-16 from the floor for the game, including 5-7 in the second half, when he scored 16 of his 23 points. Sophomore guard Nathaniel Lester (Brooklyn, NY) made his first start of the year and contributed a career-high five assists. Adako was the only player besides Janning to score in double figures for Northeastern, finishing with 13 points.
Following a three-day layoff, the Pride will return to action Wednesday when it hosts William and Mary in a conference matchup. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
(Photo by Brian Ballweg for Hofstra Athletics)
