Underpreview: Delaware vs. Northeastern
Published: Monday, February 20, 2012
Updated: Tuesday, February 21, 2012 01:02
Time: 12 p.m. Saturday
Location: Bob Carpenter Center
About the teams:
About Delaware: The Hens are now 15-12 overall, and are 10-6 in the conference. They are fresh off a 68-64 win over Hampton. Devon Saddler leads the team in scoring with 18.6 points per game. Saddler also leads the team in free throws made, with 4.6 free throws a game. Junior forward Jamelle Hagins is second in scoring with 12.9 points per game. Freshmen have also come to the fore, with Khalid Lewis leading the team in assists with 2.8 assists per game.
About Northeastern: The Huskies are 12-15 overall, and are 9-8 in conference competition. They lost to Stoney Brook in the Sears Bracketbusters competition, 69-76. Junior guard Jonathan Lee leads the team in scoring with 14.1 points per game. Lee also leads the team in assists, with 3.5 assists per game. Junior guard Joel Smith is second in scoring with 12.0 points per game.
Why the Hens can win:
With their last loss to Drexel on January 28th, Delaware comes into this match-up riding a six-game winning streak. Jamelle Hagins is clutch when it comes to rebounding, averaging 11.2 boards a game. Delaware also has less turnovers, with 13.0 turnovers a game, compared to Northeastern's 15.5. Also, Delaware has a better winning average in conference competition, with a .625 average compared to Northeastern's .529.
Why the Hens could lose:
The last time these two teams played, Northeastern took the win at home, 62-61, after having pulled off a late rally. And while Northeastern's guards are small, their forwards are big, with an average height of 6 feet 8 inches, making them hard to defend when Delaware's biggest guard, Khalid Lewis, is 6 feet 3 inches. Also, Delaware only has a scoring margin of +0.9 points per game.
The numbers:
3: The number of Northeastern scorers in double digits.
5: The number of foulouts Kauri Black has for Northeastern
13.0 to 15.5: Delaware's number of turnovers per game to Northeastern's
The prediction:
While Northeastern made a late rally to win last time, their loss to Stony Brook, combined with Delaware's winning streak, shows the Hens have the upper hand in this rematch.
Delaware 68
Northeastern 65
—Jack Cobourn
Assistant Sports Editor
is a member of the 
