By Jake Fischer, News Staff
The last-second play that head coach Bill Coen drew up with 18 seconds left in last night’s game turned into as big of a frenzy as the season-record 3,463 Matthews Arena crowd. After a near-turnover and a Jonathan Lee pass, the ball ended up in the hands of freshman David Walker.
A newcomer who registered just seven minutes off the bench in the Huskies’ opening-night victory over Boston University, Walker did not flinch and let a 13-foot baseline jumper roll off his fingertips. The ball ripped through the net and the Northeastern men’s basketball team secured its first conference regular season title since it was a member of the America East back in the 1992-93 season.
Walker and company have locked up at least a share of the regular season Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) championship and can clinch the outright banner and top seed in the Richmond CAA Tournament with one victory in their final two games at Georgia State University and versus Old Dominion University.
“This is just another step in a long, long journey,” Coen said after the victory. “Our journey started when our freshmen first arrived on campus way back in July and we started preparation for our Canada trip. We’re hoping there are a couple more big steps in that journey.”
Walker’s move from playing under 10 minutes in his start as a Husky to clinching wins is a prime example of the growth on the team.
“I came in ready to do whatever coach told me to do,” Walker said. “Whether that was handle the ball or score, rebound and box out. After all the practice we’ve had, it was just another shot.”
Along with player development, the Huskies have embraced a team and “next-man-up” philosophy all year while dealing with adversity and injuries. Wednesday night was no different, as the team’s senior co-captains Jonathan Lee and Joel Smith uncharacteristically failed to score 10 points and three underclassmen stepped up.
Along with Walker, who scored 11 points in total along with the game-winner, sophomores Quincy Ford and Reggie Spencer scored 14 and 13 points, respectively. Sophomore Demetrius Pollard and freshman Zach Stahl also came up big for Northeastern off the bench, adding eight and nine points, respectively of their own.
“Joel was struggling, so I just tried to help fill his spot and be a leader,” Ford said after the game. “I’m definitely feeling more confident. Not just scoring the ball but also in a leadership role.“
A testament to that confidence, Ford has drilled 31-straight free throws, dating back to the team’s Jan. 27 victory over George Mason University.
Considering the most staggering number of the night might just be that 55 of Northeastern’s 66 points came from underclassmen, the Huskies could have a bright future ahead, and not just for the remainder of this season.
It was a tale of two halves for the Huskies, who shot 7-12 from three-point land en route to 32-26 lead at the intermission. But following recess, the Huskies came out and attacked the basket, getting to the line 19 times – and making 17 of the attempts – while shooting just three attempts from beyond the arc, demonstrating the team’s versatility.
With the turnout in the stands, the victory extended beyond the hardwood.
Coen said he was grateful to the fans who filled Matthews in support of his team.
“It was a very special evening for everybody involved,” Coen said. “The arena was electric and they kind of willed us to victory.”
