Boston College defeats Sacred Heart 81-73 Behind 28 from Wynston Tabb

Coming off back to back quality wins, over Loyola Chicago and Minnesota, and riding a three-game win streak overall, the Boston College Eagles (6-1) welcomed Sacred Heart (3-5) to Conte Forum on Thursday night. Backed by a career-high 28 points from freshman Wynston Tabb, the Eagles made it four in a row, 81-73 over Sacred Heart.

Tabb got some help from his friends as the Eagles had four players end the night in double figures in scoring.

The Pioneer arrived in Newton off a non-conference home win vs Hartford and were looking to make it two in a row as they begin a five-game road trip.

Both teams struggled with putting the ball in the basket. Four minutes into the game, only two points had been scored. A jumper by Tabb had BC up 2-0.

The Eagles acquired their first ten point lead with eleven minutes left in the half at 14-4.

Sacred Heart arrived at this game shooting 37% from beyond the arc, and 50% from the field. On Thursday night, the Pioneer had great difficulty finding the bucket shooting just 15% with six minutes to play in the half

Meanwhile, the Eagles were doing ok for themselves. Back to back three-pointers by freshman Jairus Hamilton (10 points and 9 rebounds) gave Boston College their biggest lead of the half at 20-4.

The Pioneer finally broke double-digits on a three-point basket by Kinnon LaRose. Five minutes left before the break, BC was up 26-11. EJ Anosike led Sacred Heart with a team-high 22 points.

However, all the good work Boston College did was almost wasted as the Eagles got a bit lazy toward half’s end and the Pioneer heated up. A three-point bucket by Sean Hoehn (19 points) cut the Eagles lead to ten at the break 34-24.

Boston College looked to put the visiting Pioneer away as free throws by Ky Bowman (15 points) kept the Eagles up by double figures at 36-24 early in the second half. The Pioneer began a bit of a comeback getting the BC advantage under ten at 38-29 on a Jare’l Spellman basket in the paint. 38-29 Eagles.

Boston College would go on a run as Jordan Chapman’s layup restored the lead back to fifteen at 46-31 with fourteen minutes to go.

Nic Popovic (14 points) would keep the lead safe with a bucket and one in the paint to make it 51- 35 Eagles with twelve minutes to go. The sixteen-point margin would match what BC had in the first half.

However, Sacred Heart would not go away that easily as they worked to whittle the lead down as the second half continued. With under two to play in the game, the Pioneer cut the lead to under ten on a basket by Hoehn off a fast break. The lead was now just eight at 71-63.

The PIoneer would draw a little closer thanks to some three-point shooting from Zach Radz (10 points) when he took the ball to the basket and scored. It was now a seven-point affair at 77-70 with under a minute to go.

It would be as close as the visitors would get and Boston College would close things out to win their fourth in a row 81-73 over a pesky Sacred Heart squad.

After the game, Eagle’s head coach Jim Christian told the media. He was “happy with the result” but not happy” with allowing Sacred Heart back in the game by allowing them to use their strengths”. Christian thought his team did a good job of taking away from the PIoneer in the first half.

Wynston Tabb said “he is feeling more comfortable and letting the game come to him”. Tonight’s performance was his fifth double-digit scoring game in the seven that he has played.

Boston College gets a bit of a break before the Providence College Friars come calling next Tuesday night.