By Andrew Parente

The men’s basketball team dropped a tough game Saturday afternoon to Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) opponent James Madison, 68-65.

This was the first home contest of the year for the Huskies, as they opened the season with five games on the road.

Junior forwards Matt Smith and Chris Alvarez led the Huskies in scoring with 12 points each, which is also career highs for both.

Northeastern started the game strong, shooting well from three point range. The Huskies took a 22-9 lead with just more than 10 minutes to play in the half. However, they lost some momentum when Alvarez was called for an intentional foul. The Dukes made both free throws, which sparked a run, and they tied the game at 32 with 2:30 to play in the half.

Northeastern responded with back-to-back lay-ups by Smith and freshman guard Chase Allen to give the Huskies the lead at the half, 36-32.

The lead was short lived, though, as the Dukes came out strong in the second half and took their first lead of the game, 41-40, only three minutes into the half.

From that point, the teams traded baskets, but James Madison held onto the lead, going up seven with 11:30 to go in the game. Northeastern struggled to score in the second half, as they only went nine of 25 shooting. They also had a tough time from the free throw line, converting just 14 of 26 overall.

“We are good free throw shooters, you just have to go up and make them,” said head coach Bill Coen. “At the end of the game, they made their free throws and we missed a few and in a game like this that was definitely a factor.”

But the Huskies never gave up, and began to cut into the Dukes lead. Eventually they tied the score at 57 with five minutes left to play. The run was highlighted by Nkem Ojougboh, as the sophomore center followed up a missed shot with a dunk that brought the crowd to its feet.

Sophomore forward Manny Adako was then fouled on a jump shot and converted on the free throw to tie the score.

The teams remained close until a big three point shot from James Madison sophomore guard Pierre Curtis gave the Dukes a four point lead with just more than a minute to play. Curtis led all scorers in the game with 19.

Northeastern again refused to go down easy, as junior forward Eugene Spates hit a three with 3.9 seconds left to bring the game within one. The Huskies then quickly fouled senior forward Terrance Carter, who made both free throws to re-establish a three point lead.

The Huskies were able to get off a shot in the last second, but Alvarez’s three was off the mark as time expired.

“As expected, this was a highly contested game,” Coen said. “Both teams competed buzzer to buzzer, but at the end of the game they made winning plays and that was the difference.”

The Huskies were able to hold the Dukes to 37 percent from the field while shooting 45 percent themselves.

Northeastern (2-4, 0-1 CAA) will be on the road their next two games as the team travels to Durham, N.H. to take on America East opponent New Hampshire tonight before battling UConn Thursday.

The Huskies will return home to take on Harvard at Matthews Arena Dec. 19 at 7 p.m.