ANCHORAGE (Nov. 23) - Northeastern's Joel Smith tallied 26 points to lead his team back from a pair of double-digit deficits as the Huskies beat Belmont 74-71 in the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout semifinals at Sullivan Arena on Friday night.

Smith also had six rebounds and five assists to help the Huskies (4-1) reach the Shootout finals for their second Shootout final in as many trips. The Boston school also made the 1986 championship game with its Reggie Lewis-led squad.

Belmont, which raced to 15-point leads in both halves, got a Shootout-record nine three-pointers from guard Ian Clark, who scored a game-high 29 points.

NU will meet the winner of Charlotte and Oral Roberts in the 9:30 p.m. title game on Saturday, while Belmont will face the winner of that game at 7 p.m. for third place.