SANTA CLARA -- Scott Eatherton scored 20 points and Northeastern topped Santa Clara 78-72 on Saturday.
A 13-2 spurt midway through the first half lifted Northeastern (7-3) from a two-point deficit to a 20-13 lead. Another 11-2 run near the end of the frame -- including a pair of Caleb Donnelly 3-pointers - led to a 42-33 advantage for the Huskies at the break.
Sana Clara (5-5) cut it to two with 9:16 left after layups by Matt Hubbard and Denzel Johnson and 1 of 2 free throws by Jared Brownridge.
But David Walker drilled a pair of 3-pointers to push the lead back to six and Northeastern held off the Broncos down the stretch.
Walker finished with 16 points, including five 3-pointers. Quincy Ford scored 12 points while Donnelly added 13 and T.J. Williams had 11 points.
Santa Clara was paced by Brownridge's 18 points.
