Terriers Top Crosstown Rival with 83-75 Win at Northeastern
Lowe, O'Brien combine for 48 points to lead BU to third straight win
Junior Corey Lowe

Junior Corey Lowe

Nov. 25, 2008

Box Score

BOSTON - Two different Terriers scored more than 20 points in different halves, as the Boston University men's basketball team (3-1) played its best game of the season while defeating cross-town rival Northeastern (3-2), 83-75, on Tuesday evening at Matthews Arena. Junior Corey Lowe led the way with a game-high 27 points, including 23 in the first 20 minutes, while freshman Jake O'Brien scored a career-high 21 points all in the second stanza.

With the victory, the Terriers have won three consecutive games and both of their road contests this season. The Huskies suffered their first home loss before an announced crowd of 2,500 in a game televised by NESN.

"This is a win we're happy to have, especially because it's a rivalry game," head coach Dennis Wolff said after his record improved to 19-11 against the Huskies. "A lot of good players made a lot of good plays tonight. This is a strong non-conference win, but this group is interested in accomplishing a lot more this season.

Lowe provided a strong start, scoring 18 of BU's first 22 points, including a four-point play, in the opening 10 minutes. He finished the half with 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting with four 3-pointers. He coupled his team-leading season-high 27 points with a second consecutive six-assist effort.

Despite Lowe's scoring outburst, the Huskies hung around initially, as the lead changed hands nine times in the first 20 minutes. Reigning Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Week Matt Janning drained a fadeaway baseline jumper at the halftime buzzer to nudge NU ahead of BU, 40-39. Janning played all 40 minutes and finished with team highs for points (22) and assists (7). Chaisson Allen added 14 points and a game-high seven rebounds, and Nkem Ojougboh chipped in 13.


 

 

O'Brien and sophomore John Holland led the charge after intermission, combining to score the Terriers' first 18 points. BU then held NU without a field goal for nearly four minutes in the middle of the second half, stretching its margin to as large as 14 with under five minutes to play before finishing off its eight-point victory.

Coming off being named America East Co-Player of the Week, Holland finished with 17 points and tied senior Matt Wolff, who also scored a season-high seven points, for a team-high six rebounds. He is the only Terrier to reach double-digits in all four games this year. His 4-for-4 performance from the charity stripe paced BU's 10-of-12 effort on free throws.

In the 136th meeting between the former conference opponents, both squads shot better than 50 percent from the field for the game (BU, .547; NU, .509). The Terriers also were an impressive 15-for-31 from behind the arc. BU has now beaten NU 70 times, but did so for the first time in their last five meetings. The win also completed a Terrier sweep at Matthews Arena, as the BU women's team rallied for a hard-fought 71-68 victory earlier in the evening.

The Terriers resume their 100th season of play when they continue their three-game road stand Saturday, Nov. 29 with a trip to Emmitsburg, Md., to face Mount St. Mary's, the defending champion of the Northeast Conference. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. The game broadcast will air live on WWZN-AM 1510 "The Zone" and be streamed online at 1510 The Zone.