Anchorage, AK (Sports Network) - Led by 26 points from Joel Smith, the
Northeastern Huskies erased a double-digit second half deficit against the
Belmont Bruins to win, 74-71, in the semifinal round of the Great Alaska
Shootout at Sullivan Arena.
Smith shot 8-of-14 from the field, including 6-of-9 from three-point range for
the Huskies (4-1), who will advance to play either Oral Roberts or Charlotte
in the championship game. Zach Stahl tallied 13 points, Quincy Ford put up 11
points, and Reggie Spencer netted 10.
For Belmont (4-1), Ian Clark scored a season-high 29 points on 10-of-13 from
the field, including a remarkable 9-of-11 from three-point range. The nine
treys were a single-game record for the tournament. Trevor Noack (11 points,
six rebounds) and Blake Jenkins (10 points, seven rebounds) also put together
solid efforts for the Bruins.
Belmont started the game fast, getting out to a 19-4 lead in the first six
minutes, but Northeastern eventually cut the lead to just three before half,
and the Bruins took a 35-32 lead into intermission.
The Bruins again extended their lead to double-digits, and a Clark three-
pointer with 13 minutes remaining put them up 55-39, but the Huskies answered
with a 23-8 run to get the game to within one point with just over five
minutes to play. Belmont kept a one-possession lead until David Walker drilled
a three-pointer with 58 seconds left to give Northeastern a 70-68 lead, an
advantage it would not surrender.
Northeastern shot 50 percent from the floor and 81 percent from the free throw
line, which helped negate 18 turnovers.
GAME NOTES:
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