Eagles Wake Up The Echoes at Notre Dame in 73-72 Win

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Derryck Thornton leads three BC Eagles players in double figures with 19 points

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Boston College never trailed as it snapped a four-game losing streak with a 73-72 win at Notre Dame.

The win over the Irish ends a 13-game slide dating back to Feb. 8, 2005. The victory is also BC’s first at the Joyce Center since Jan. 11, 1997.

BC started hot offensively, hitting 6-of-9 to start the game, and defensively. The Eagles forced seven Irish turnovers through the first eight-plus minutes of the contest. They led by 12 – 31-19 with 8:21 left in the period – knocking down 5-of-7 from beyond the arc. The Eagles led, 38-28, at the break.

In the second half, the Irish made 4-of-7 from the floor to start the period and cut the Eagles’ lead into single-digits. Notre Dame’s fourth 3-pointer of the half made it 54-48 with just under 12 minutes left in regulation.

With 8:43 to play, Julian Rishwain knocked down BC’s 10th 3-pointer of the game, pushing the lead back up to 12 – at 62-50. BC’s defense held Notre Dame without a field goal for over six minutes, but the Irish set up shop at the free-throw line and kept the game within three possessions.

The Eagles led 70-61 with 3:27 to play before Notre Dame scored six unanswered points to make it a one-possession contest with 54.7 ticks to play. Jay Heath gave BC a bit of breathing room, banging home a 3-pointer with 36.3 to go, making it 73-67.

Two missed front ends of 1-and-1’s by Derryck Thornton and Heath gave the Irish a slim hope. ND grabbed the Heath miss and called timeout with 1.8 left on the clock. Their desperation shot at the buzzer came up short.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

Three Boston College players reached double-digits in the scoring column, led by Derryck Thornton’s 19 points.
The grad transfer made 9-of-12 shots from the floor, including a 3-pointer. He added four assists and two steals in 35 minutes.
Jay Heath added 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting – including 4-of-6 from the perimeter. He logged an assist and a steal in 35 minutes.
CJ Felder – in his first collegiate start – had eight points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
The Boston College bench scored 19 points on the afternoon, led by Jared Hamilton’s 13 points.
Hamilton played an efficient 28 minutes, connecting 6-of-8 shots – including a 3-pointer. He added four boards, two dimes, and a steal.
Julian Rishwain knocked down two 3-pointers and grabbed two rebounds.
Luka Kraljevic had three rebounds.
For the game, BC shot just under 50.0% from the floor (30-61), making 11-of-23 from beyond the arc.
The Eagles held Notre Dame to under 40% (23-58).
The free throw discrepancy was 23-4 in favor of Notre Dame.

STAT OF THE GAME:

8365 – That is how many days have passed since the last Boston College win at the Joyce Center. BC downed ND, 73-61, on Jan. 11, 1997.

FOR THE ANALYTICS CROWD:

Four Eagles reached double figures in efficiency, led by Derryck Thornton’s 20.
Jared Hamilton logged a season-best 18, while Steffon Mitchell had 16. Jay Heath posted a mark of 13.
Efficiency rating is calculated using the following formula: (PTS + REB + AST + STL + BLK – Missed Shots – TO)

UP NEXT:

Boston College plays a pair of home games next week, starting with Albany on Tuesday, Dec. 10. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
The Eagles host Central Connecticut on Sunday. Dec. 15 at 1 p.m.
Both games will stream live on the ACC Network Extra.
The game can also be heard live on the Boston College Learfield IMG College Sports Network with Josh Maurer and Danya Abrams on WEEI 850 AM.