Men's Basketball Drops Decision To Boston College, 70-65
Jan. 29, 2002
By STEVEN WINE
AP Sports Writer
MIAMI (AP) – Troy Bell made only one field goal in the second half, and it was a big one.
The Big East Conference scoring leader sank a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:47 left to help Boston College beat No. 15 Miami 70-65 Tuesday night.
Bell had 18 points at halftime, then was held scoreless in the second half until he made two free throws with 2:39 left. That cut Miami’s lead to 65-63, and his 3-pointer on the Eagles’ next possession put them ahead to stay.
“He knows it’s his show coming down the stretch, and that makes it difficult to guard him,” Boston College coach Al Skinner said.
Boston College (15-5, 4-3 Big East) beat the Hurricanes (18-3, 5-3) for the third consecutive time and snapped their four-game winning streak. The Eagles had lost four of six after a 12-1 start.
“This is a big momentum-builder,” Bell said. “A win like this on the road really helps our confidence.”
The Hurricanes lost at home for the first time after 11 wins. They were outscored 9-0 down the stretch and managed just one field goal in the last 9:49.
“If you look at the games we haven’t won, it’s been the same thing – we hit a streak where we don’t score,” coach Perry Clark said. “It’s a virus. We get impatient.”
The Hurricanes shot only 30 percent and missed 13 of their final 14 shots.
Bell finished with 25 points. Teammate Ryan Sidney scored 18 but said the Eagles won the game at the Hurricanes’ end of the court.
“Everything was defense,” Sidney said. “That was our focus. They’re such an evenly balanced team you’ve got to play them heads-up.”
Sidney also had 10 rebounds and seven assists. Kenny Walls added 13 points.
James Jones had 19 points and 12 rebounds for Miami. Darius Rice, who totaled 62 points the past two games, was held to 16 and went 1-for-9 from 3-point range.
“We’re hurting now, but we’ve got to get over it,” Rice said.
The Hurricanes, who made their first 25 free throws, rallied from a 10-point deficit in the second half with a 15-2 run to lead 56-51. The margin reached 64-57 with 5:46 to go before the Eagles staged their own comeback.
“We’ve been there before,” Bell said. “We know teams are going to make runs. We just wanted to stay composed.”
Bell scored 11 points early, including a four-point play, to help Boston College take a 15-5 lead. Miami spent the rest of the half trying to catch up and trailed 36-33 at halftime.
The Eagles matched their biggest lead at 49-39 before Miami rallied. Jones hit back-to-back 3-pointers, Rice’s two free throws made the score 51-all, and John Salmons’ three-point play put the Hurricanes ahead 54-51 with 10 minutes left.
Boston College overcame foul trouble in the second half, and three frontcourt players finished with four fouls.
