By Andrew Parente, News Staff

The New Year is off to a fast start for the men’s basketball team, who are now winners of eight straight games after dropping Delaware, 59-55, at Matthews Arena last night.
Northeastern improves to 5-1 in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) and 10-7 overall.
Seniors guard Matt Janning and forward Nkem Ojougboh led all Huskies in scoring with 15 points each. Delaware guard Jawan Carter led all scorers in the contest with 19 points, despite only scoring two after the first half.
The Fightin’ Blue Hens drop to 5-12 overall and 1-5 in the CAA.
Senior forward Manny Adako was also in double-figures with 12 points for the Huskies, who never trailed in the contest and led by as many as 11 at one point.
The game came down to the final possession as the Huskies came up with a defensive stop with under a minute to go as Delaware was looking for the tie. Janning came up with a steal and was immediately fouled. He then went to the line and converted on a pair of free throws to ice the game.
‘I thought tonight’s ball game was appropriate the way it ended,’ head coach Bill Coen said. ‘It seemed like we couldn’t make a shot all night, we had some great looks at the basket but couldn’t come up with a shot. Fortunately for us down the stretch we were able to find a way to get the ball in the hole and come up with a huge stop at the end of the game.’
NU started the game strong, opening up a 6-0 lead, before extending it to 21-10, half way through the first 20 minutes. Ojougboh got it started with a pair of free throws before freshman guard Alwayne Bibgy made a layup off a pass from junior guard Chaisson Allen. The run closed when Adako converted on four straight points followed by Janning scoring the next seven.
Delaware would not quit though and got the deficit to just six at the half. The teams would exchange baskets for the better part of the second half until the Blue Hens tied the game at 55 after a three from Carter with 1:17 to play.
However, those would be the last points Delaware scored on the evening as Ojogboh hit a jumper from the top of the key to give the Huskies the lead for good before the final possession.
Despite having only nine points last night, Allen’s defensive effort was there all game long and has been an important part of the Huskies current winning streak, which is the longest under Coen.
‘Chase has tremendous court presence, when he has the ball in his hands he directs our club,’ Coen said. ‘He knows exactly where we want to get the ball and he’s got the ability to come up and make big plays.’
Allen came into this game also as the reigning CAA-player of the week after averaging 16 points, six rebounds, and 4.3 assists in three games last week.
‘He’s been playing as well as anybody in this league over the last week or so,’ Coen said. ‘I fully expect him to get back to that form and we couldn’t win this game tonight without his efforts.’
Janning has also been strong during the streak and credits the teams overall efforts as to why they have been coming away with wins.
‘I think it’s been our focus right away coming into the games,’ Janning said. ‘Everybody has been getting prepared real well and just our overall defensive intensity has improved. That’s one thing that’s really changed, early in the year we weren’t as focused on the defensive end but now we are and that’s what leads to our offense.’
During winter break, the Huskies posted a 3-2 record on their west coast trip, including a win over Southern Methodist in the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii Dec. 25.
Northeastern was also able to claim the Cable Car Classic title in Santa Clara, Calif., with wins over host Santa Clara in the semi-finals and over Kent State in the title game.
The Huskies kept that momentum going when they returned to the east coast and CAA play.’ During a grueling stretch that included four games in a span of just seven days, NU posted a 4-0 record in the conference.
Allen and Janning each put up 16 points in the Huskies win over James Madison, 73-61.’ NU got out to an early 9-0 lead and never trailed in the contest.’ Bataille was also in double-figures with 11.
The Huskies then traveled south to Richmond, Va. and posted a 62-57 win over VCU.’ Adako scored a game-high 23 points in the game on 11-of-14 shooting.’ The Huskies are also the only team to defeat the Rams at home in the past two seasons.
Northeastern extended its winning streak when it returned home and defeated George Mason 71-46.’ Allen tied a career high with six three-pointers in the contest en route to a game-high 20 points.
Wrapping up the long stretch of games, the Huskies again went south, this time to Atlanta to take on Georgia State. Janning scored a season-high 23 points, propelling the Huskies to a 66-54 win. Adako, who hails from Deacatur, Ga. just outside Atlanta, scored 11 points for NU, including his 1000th career point.
NU will look to keep momentum going when it welcomes UNC-Wilmington to Matthews Arena Saturday at 1 p.m.