(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Boston College overcame several significant obstacles en route to the team?s 76-67 win over Maryland. The streaking Eagles have won three straight games to improve their conference mark to 4-3 on the year and 16-6 overall.
BC dug themselves a huge hole in the first half. They were beat on the defensive glass and Maryland just couldn?t miss. As a team, the Terrapins shot over 50% in the first half. BC allowed Maryland to take open shots and gave up uncontested layups in the paint. Maryland quickly asserted their full court pressure defense that also caused some early turnovers by BC.?
Tyrese Rice picked up his third foul with 6 minutes to play and the team down 27-19. He would not play the rest of the half. BC trailed 31-19 with 5 minutes to go in the half when Tyler Roche hit a three to bring BC back to within single digits. Maryland then scored on their next three possessions to give Maryland their largest lead of the game, 16, with the score 38-22. Biko Paris was able to hit a three with seconds to go in the half to cut BC?s losses. They trailed 40-29 at the break.
To put this first half beating in perspective, keep in mind that Maryland was held to 44 points total the game before against Duke. Boston College was lucky to escape the first half down only 11. Nearly every break went Maryland?s way and the team shot lights out. BC was able to stay close because the team shot 5-8 from three-point range.
BC was an entirely different team in the second half. They outscored Maryland 47-27 and played significantly better defense, holding the Terrapins to just 11-37 shooting (30%). In the first half they allowed the full court press to control their offensive tempo and it threw them out of sync. They made the necessary adjustments and were really never bothered by the press in the second half.
BC was led offensively by Rakim Sanders who had a team high 16 points. Sanders did not have his best shooting night (5-14 from the floor, 1-5 from three?s), but he made some big baskets down the stretch to put BC over the top. Joe Trapani added 10 points and a game high 9 rebounds. Trapani battled down low, and especially in the second half, hauled in some crucial rebounds for the Eagles. Tyrese Rice was limited to just 2 points in the first half as he sat out with foul trouble. Rice finished the game with 10 points to go along with 6 assists. Reggie Jackson continued to contribute in many ways as he chipped in with 10 points and solid defense, including a great block on Vasquez as he drove to the hoop. Corey Raji scored 9 for the Eagles, but was seen grimacing as he limped off the court after hustling after a loose ball, perhaps re-aggravating his prior injury.
Josh Southern emerged as an offensive threat in the paint for the Eagles in the second half. Southern finished with 12 points in the game on 5-6 shooting, just 1 shy of his career high. Southern was able to get great positioning against the small frontcourt of Maryland and he took advantage. He also added 6 boards.
Boston College mixed and matched their defense with a combination of zone and man-to man as they looked for some way of stopping Maryland. The defense settled down in the second half and really limited Maryland?s scoring opportunities. Greivis Vasquez, the heart and soul of the team, finished with a game high 18 points, but shot only 7-20 from the field before fouling out late. Raji and Sanders played such great defense on him that he was seen crying on the bench late in the game.
This game was a crucial comeback victory on the road for BC. The team showed some real character by coming out firing in the second half. The Eagles look to ride their success into Saturday?s home game as they look to avenge their prior loss to Virginia Tech. Tip-off is set for 8pm in Conte Forum.
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