NEW BRITAIN, Conn. -- Joel Smith scored 27 points as Northeastern snapped a five-game losing streak by defeating Central Connecticut State 82-63 in a nonconference game Friday night.
Smith started an 11-0 second-half run with a three-point play and also sank a 3-pointer as the Huskies (5-6) widened a 41-36 lead to 52-36 with 12:32 remaining. Smith now has 1,025 career points.His backcourt partner, Jonathan Lee, added 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in his second game back after missing Northeastern's first nine games with a preseason foot injury.The Blue Devils (4-5) came in as the nation's top free-throw shooting team at 83.3 percent but went just 5-for-9 from the line. Northeastern made 25 of 34 as CCSU starters Adonis Burbage and Malcolm McMillan fouled out.Matt Hunter, who scored 40 points in CCSU's 100-69 loss to then-No. 1 Indiana on Dec. 8, led the Blue Devils with 22 against Northeastern.
