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.