BOSTON – Despite finishing with a higher shooting percentage, the Boston University men's basketball team came up just short to Northeastern, 65-59, on Friday night at Case Gym in the season-opening contest for both squads. 

Owning a nine-point halftime advantage, the Huskies were held to 36.4 percent shooting in the final 20 minutes but still prevailed by hitting 20-of-24 (.833) at the charity stripe, while the Terriers went 8-of-16 (.500) for the game.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Senior Nick Havener opened the game with a layup on a nice feed from freshman Javante McCoy, and senior Cheddi Mosely hit one of his own at 12:27 to give the Terriers an early 12-4 lead.
• With the help of four 3-pointers, including two from Devon Begley, the Huskies responded with a 24-7 run over the following eight minutes to take the lead for good.
• Senior Cedric Hankerson cut the deficit to five (29-24) with a 3-pointer at 2:17, but Tomas Murphy hit a jumper at 1:08 and finished the half before the buzzer with a slam dunk to push the Huskies' lead back to nine (35-26).
• Northeastern was unable to extend the lead to double digits, and the Terriers were able to claw their way back into the contest during the final stretch.
• Trailing 48-40 with under 10 to play, Havener hit back-to-back layups, and sophomore Destin Barnes later added a layup at 7:05 to pull the Terriers within three (51-48).
• The Terriers missed two game-tying 3-point attempts and a jumper over the next two minutes, allowing the Huskies to maintain their lead, as Murphy scored twice in the paint to pull ahead, 57-50, at 2:08.
• Mosely tried one more rally by draining a 3-pointer on the next possession, but the Terriers missed their next two field goal attempts and the Huskies hit their final eight free throws to seal the victory. 

GAME NOTES

• The Terriers shot 48.3 percent in the second half after being held to 32.1 percent in the second ... They went 1-of-8 at the line though compared to 4-of-11 in 3-point territory during the final 20 minutes.
• Sophomore Max Mahoney posted 11 points, one shy of his career high, while adding a team-high five rebounds, while Mosely posted 12 points and four rebounds.
• Hankerson scored 10 points to push his career total to 987, 13 shy of the 1,000-point milestone previously reached by 35 former Terriers.
• McCoy and freshman Walter Whyte both earned the start in their debuts ... The duo combined for 16 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals.
• Murphy was one of three Huskies to reach double digits with a game-high 15 points and six rebounds. 
• Vasa Pusica nearly had a double-double with nine points and seven assists to help lead Northeastern.
• The Huskies tied the all-time series, 73-73, after avenging last year's 65-63 loss at BU.

NEXT UP: ALBANY

• The Terriers will remain home and host Albany on Monday (Nov. 13) with a 7 p.m. tip-off.
• BU will be hosting the Great Danes for the second time in three years following a 69-64 home win in 2015.
• The Terriers were members of the America East alongside Albany until the summer of 2013 and have won the last 10 matchups.