Delaware Blue Hens can’t hold lead but win in OT
BOSTON — Someday maybe Delaware will figure a better way to close out games.
On Monday night, though, the Blue Hens were just happy to get a victory — no matter how difficult it was.
Delaware squandered a 15-point second-half lead but still managed to outlast Northeastern, 82-76, in overtime in a CAA men’s basketball game at Matthews Arena.
The contest was the last of five straight CAA road games for the Hens (3-2 CAA, 12-5 overall), caused in part by a couple COVID postponements. Delaware has never played five conference games in a row on the road before.
“I love our team, I love coaching these guys,” said Delaware coach Martin Ingelsby. “They want to be great. ... I think we’re starting to figure out an identity. We’ve got some confidence on the offensive end.
“We’ve got to learn to take it to the next level and that’s when we build a lead to keep that lead. That’s been a little bit of an Achilles’ heel. We can be really potent offensively and put some spurts on people. And then can we dig in and grind?”
With the score tied at 69-69 at the end of regulation, Delaware had the last possession. But Kevin Anderson missed a three-pointer from the corner and Jameer Nel, Jr.’s leaping attempt at a putback hit off the rim at the buzzer.
The Hens went almost six minutes at the end of regulation without a field goal.
Delaware, though, took relative control in OT, The Hens trailed only once at 73-72, before running off seven straight points.
A big three-pointer from sophomore Andrew Carr from the corner put Delaware ahead to stay at 75-73.
Four players finished in double figures for the Hens: Dylan Painter (20), Carr (18), Ebby Asamoah (16) and Kevin Anderson (13). Painter and Anderson netted four points apiece in overtime.
Northeastern (0-6 CAA, 6-11) led for only 1:12 of the contest. But that was almost enough as the Huskies went up for the first time at 69-67 with just 1:46 remaining in regulation.
Delaware needed a pair of free throws by Anderson with 47 second left to send the game to OT. The senior guard also had nine assists, including three in overtime.
“He was fabulous,” Ingelsby said about Anderson. “He’s really, really distributing the basketball well. I played him 39 minutes. He’s exhausted out there.”
Free throws
Delaware will play its first home game in 40 days on Thursday when it hosts William & Mary at 7 p.m. ... Senior Ryan Allen did play after injuring his knee on Saturday at Northeastern. But he was on the court for only 14 minutes, scoring five points. ... Asamoah was 5-for-8 from three-point range. He’s 9-for-16 from beyond the arc in the last two games.
