In a first half that resembled the 2000 Final Four game between Michigan State and Wisconsin that featured a brutal 19-17 halftime score, the Eagles scored 24 points in the half on 10 of 24 shooting, while the Hoyas scored 12 on 26.3% from the field.
After Ashanti Cook hit a three-pointer and Roy Hibbert converted one of two free throws with 16:48 remaining in the first half, the Eagles clamped down on defense and did not allow another Hoya point until the 4:05 mark. The tough match-up zone of the Eagles disrupted the precision needed for the Princeton-style offense run by former Princeton coach John Thompson III. A late flurry of baskets by the Hoyas was all that prevented a single-digit tally.
The second half was more offensively robust for both teams. Brandon Bowman scored 14 second-half points and brought the Hoyas back within five points. The Eagles stayed ahead and kept their lead safe thanks to hitting 17 of their 18 free throws, including 15 in a row.
Although a surprisingly large coterie of Georgetown students made the trip north to Chestnut Hill, their chants of “It’s all right, it’s okay, you’re gonna work for us someday” to their fellow top 50 Jesuit university were drowned out by the packed Conte Forum crowd. As the clock wound down under a minute, the crowd began to thunderously chant “UN-DE-FEAT-ED!” as the Eagles players finally heard the full support of their fans, many of whom have been late arriving to the Boston College basketball party this season.
“It was great, it was a good feeling,” said Craig Smith, who scored 20 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, swiped 4 steals, and dished out 3 assists. “I wish we had it a little earlier, but now that we’re ranked, I guess we’re getting people’s attention.”
The Eagles certainly have the attention of the rest of college basketball, as one of the two remaining undefeated teams, as Duke fell to Maryland at home this past week. With Wake Forest, Duke, and Syracuse (all ranked ahead of BC at the start of the week) all losing this week, the Eagles look poised to jump into the top five in Monday’s new polls.
BC returns to action Tuesday night in Chestnut Hill against West Virginia.