Cothran scores 19 points, and Rhode Island hits free throws to hold off Northeastern 79-76

Rhode Island holds off Northeastern 79-76

KINGSTON, R.I. — Keith Cothran scored 19 points and hit two free throws with 11 seconds left to help Rhode Island hold off Northeastern 79-76 on Thursday night.

The Rams (7-1), who won their third straight game, went 8-for-8 from the free throw line in the final 55 seconds.

The Huskies (2-5) led briefly in the second half at 41-40, then trailed by as many as seven. They pulled within 66-64 with 3:36 left after five straight points by Matt Janning. Rhode Island then had its own 5-0 run.

Northeastern cut it to 77-76 with 13 seconds left on two Joel Smith free throws. After Cothran’s final two foul shots, the Huskies’ Chaisson Allen missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Cothran, who was 10-for-11 from the floor Tuesday night in defeating Quinnipiac, was 7-for-10 against Northeastern.

Janning scored 21 points and Allen added 20 for the Huskies, who outrebounded Rhode Island 32-30.