Canes Come Up Short Against BC
March 1, 2003
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) – Troy Bell scored 32 points and moved into secondplace on the Big East all-time scoring list as Boston College beat Miami 72-68on Saturday.
Bell now has 1,335 points in conference play, 15 more than Seton Hall’sTerry Dehere amassed from 1989-93. Bell needs 67 points in his final two gamesto reach Syracuse’s Lawrence Moten, the conference’s all-time scoring lead.
Bell topped the 25-point mark for the 11th consecutive game and helped theEagles (16-9, 9-5) stay in contention for first place in the East Division ofthe conference, moving one-half game behind Connecticut.
Jermaine Watson added 17 points for Boston College, won their fifth straightand eighth out of their last nine.
James Jones scored 27 points for the Hurricanes (10-15, 3-11), who losttheir fifth straight and seventh in their last eight games. Miami was withoutleading scorer Darius Rice, who sat out because of sprained ligaments in hisright index finger.
The loss, coupled with Virginia Tech’s win over Villanova earlier Saturday,dropped Miami to last place in the conference’s East Division. The last-placefinisher in each division fails to qualify for the Big East Tournament.
Jones hit two free throws to make it a three-point game with 47 secondsleft, but Watson hit two free throws and Louis Hinnant made one of two to helpBoston College hold on.
Bell went on a personal 12-0 run early in the first half to help give theEagles a 37-23 halftime lead. And in the second half, Bell routinely made playsor hit shots to quell any momentum Miami was building.
Miami went on an 8-0 run to start the second half, but Bell connected on anoff-balanced jumper while being fouled and completed the three-point play,increasing the Eagles’ lead to nine.
After Jones’ 3-pointer with 8:07 remaining capped a 7-0 Miami run, Bell drewa foul on a 3 and converted two of the free throws to extend the Eagles’ leadto nine.
When the Hurricanes crept within five with 4:32 remaining, Bell drewmultiple defenders and passed to Craig Smith, who hit both free throws afterbeing fouled.
Boston College has now won six straight meetings with Miami.
