HARRISONBURG, Va. -- Vasa Pusica scored 31 points and Shawn Occeus 21, both career highs, and Northeastern defeated James Madison 81-70 on Saturday in a Colonial Athletic Association opener.

Leading by four early in the second half, the Huskies outscored the Dukes 19-9, including six straight points from Jeremy Miller and five consecutive by Bolden Brace to go up 72-58 with six minutes left. The Dukes got within six, 76-70, with two minutes left but missed their final four shots.

Pusica, a junior transfer from San Diego who sat out last season, and Occeus scored 12 points each to open the game then Pusica scored Northeastern's final 12 of the half for a 44-36 advantage.

Devon Begley added 10 points for the Huskies (8-5), who shot 49 percent and have won six of their last seven games.

Stuckey Mosley scored 18 points, Dwight Wilson 13 and Joey McLean 12 for the Dukes (4-10).