NEWARK, Del. -- Joel Smith scored 18 points and Quincy Ford 17 as Northeastern built a 12-point halftime lead, then hung on to beat Delaware 74-70 Saturday and retain first place in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Both teams shot better than 60 percent in the first half, but the Huskies (11-7, 6-0) led 45-33 after making 7 of 9 from 3-point range to 2 of 5 by the Blue Hens (8-10, 3-2). Smith, Ford and David Walker each had two 3-pointers in the half.

Northeastern's lead reached 17 points, 55-38, in the second half before Kyle Anderson's 3-pointer started a 16-3 Delaware run that made it 58-54 with 8:19 left.

That was as close as the Blue Hens would get. Jonathan Lee scored nine of his 14 points down the stretch for the Huskies.

Jarvis Threatt led Delaware with 21 points, Anderson had 19 and Jamelle Hagins had 16 points and 11 rebounds.