The Boston University men’s basketball team began their 2024-25 season with a loss against Northeastern University on Monday with a final score of 80-72.
Within 20 seconds, the Terriers (0-1) seemed poised to start strong with a 3-pointer, only to be blocked and scored on twice, both times by junior guard Rashad King.
BU matched NU’s aggression in recovering rebounds, and evened out the score with eight minutes left in the first half thanks to shots from senior forward Malcolm Chimezie and freshman guard Azmar Abdullah.
However, the Huskies were not deterred.
Shortly after, sophomore guard William Kermoury scored a 3-pointer to make it 24-21.
BU struggled to create a lead change and maintain it. Despite this competitive match, the Terriers ended the first half with a 1-point lead, 38-39, with a jumper in the last 40 seconds from senior guard Ethan Okwuosa.
The second half began with two missed free throws from graduate guard Miles Brewster. Thanks to Okwuosa, Chimezie and sophomore guard Michael McNair, the Terriers maintained and expanded their lead.
Just when Northeastern’s Kermoury made an attempt to close the gap, Okwuosa scored a jumper — only to be met with another jumper from Kermoury.
With twelve minutes left in the game, NU tied the score. But a layup from junior guard LA Pratt helped Northeastern take the lead once again.
Terrier freshman forward Ben Defty made up the difference with a tip-in, but it wasn’t enough to take the lead, as Kermoury scored yet another jumper. 30 seconds later, junior guard Harold Woods scored two consecutive free throws.
BU remained down by five points with four minutes remaining in the match. A consecutive 3-pointer and free throw from sophomore guard Kyrone Alexander helped close the gap, along with a jumper from Chimezie. However, the Huskies pushed ahead yet again, thanks to a 3-pointer from Pratt and a dunk by Woods.
“That’s how [Northeastern] plays…We were going to have to play through that,” head coach Joe Jones said. “We were just standing because they were just in passing lanes.”
The two teams are known for being an even match, with NU now holding 77 wins against BU’s 75 in their rivalry’s all-time history, which dates back to 1921.
Ultimately, the Huskies’ aggression won them the game. Ahead of their next game, the Terriers are gearing up to improve.
Ahead of the next game, the Terriers are gearing up to improve.
“[It’s] really just getting back to practice, watching film, honing in on the stuff that perhaps we didn’t think we were so weakened, that kind of got exposed tonight,” Alexander said.
The Terriers look to bounce back as they travel to face the University of San Diego on Friday, Nov. 8.
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