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.
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