Eagles' Furious Finish Falls Short at Notre Dame, 69-66

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BC’s late-game run denied; Bowman finishes with 24 points and 16 boards

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Notre Dame made four free throws with less than three seconds to go in regulation, as BC dropped a 69-66 decision on Saturday afternoon.

The Eagles battled back from being down by 11 points – 58-47 – with 8:18 to go to take a 66-65 lead with less than 15 seconds to play.

Nik Popovic blocked two Notre Dame shots on successive possessions, setting up the go-ahead layup by Ky Bowman with 14.8 ticks remaining, as well as a swat on the ensuing possession. The junior dove to the floor for the loose ball and was whistled for traveling.

Wynston Tabbs was called for the blocking foul with 2.8 seconds to play as the Irish charged to the basket.

It was a low-scoring affair to start the ballgame, with BC taking its only lead of the game – 12-9 – with 12:39 left, on a Ky Bowman 3-pointer. The Irish scored the next 10 points, taking a 19-12 lead with 9:16 left. The Eagles got within three – at 25-22 with 3:58 left in the half – but Notre Dame made four free throws down the stretch to extend its lead to 31-25 at the break.

The Irish started the second half on an 18-5 run, increasing their lead to 14 – 49-35 – with 14:38 to go. With 8:18 to play and down 11, BC began its run to the finish, coming up just short at the end.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

Ky Bowman had 27 points and career-high 16 rebounds. Bowman was 8-of-17 from the floor, knocking down 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. He added two assists and a steal in 40 minutes.
Nik Popovic tallied his fifth double-double of the season, with 15 points and 10 boards to go along with two assists, two blocks, and a steal.
Wynston Tabbs added 13 points, an assist, and two steals. Eleven of Tabbs’ 13 points came in the second half.
Jordan Chatman had seven points and two assists, while Jairus Hamilton grabbed six rebounds to go with four points and three assists.
The Eagles shot 40.0% from the floor for the game (26-65) and made 6-of-21 from beyond the arc.
BC connected on 8-of-10 from the foul line. Notre Dame was 20-of-23.

STAT OF THE GAME:
16 – Ky Bowman’s 16 defensive rebounds were the most by a BC player since at least the 1996-97 season. It is only the fourth game this season in which a player grabbed 16 defensive rebounds or more in a 40-minute game. Bowman joins Kentucky’s Rajon Rondo (vs. Iowa, Nov. 21, 2005) and Cleveland State’s Norris Cole (vs. Youngstown State, Feb. 12, 2011) as the only guards 6-1 or shorter to grab 16 defensive rebounds in a 40-minute game.

FOR THE ANALYTICS CROWD:
Two players had at least a 20 efficiency mark, led by Ky Bowman’s 29. Nik Popovic registered a 20. Efficiency rating is calculated using the following formula: (PTS + REB + AST + STL + BLK – Missed Shots – TO). Bowman recorded a 45 despite a season-high seven turnovers.

UP NEXT:
Boston College travels to Louisville for an ACC matchup on Wednesday, Jan. 16. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET and the game can be seen live on regional sports networks – locally, the game will clear on NESN. Wes Durham and Mike Gminski have the broadcast call on the game. The game can also be heard live on the Boston College IMG Sports Network with Josh Maurer and Kevin Collins.