The build-up for the game was unparalleled for sure, as some students arrived more two hours before the tip and were as loud as they have been all season.
The building radiated with energy from the first basket, a layup by Craig Smith, to the final moments when Jared Dudley secured a rebound and flung the ball to the rafters letting out his burgeoning trademark scream as the clock expired with BC clutching a 65-60 victory.
The students ignored the unwritten rule of not rushing the court when defeat a lower-ranked team, bursting past useless yellow tape and out-manned security guards to join the melee on the court.
“We definitely need to win even though it was on our own court. We showed we can beat an elite team, especially at home. You have to protect your home and that’s what we did,” said Dudley, who paced the team with 21 points on the night.
There was little to criticize for Al Skinner’s squad, as he received solid efforts from every player who entered the game for the Eagles, even a prematurely departed Louis Hinnant. Referee Reggie Greenwood effectively ejected Hinnant after receiving his fourth foul with 13:37 remaining in the second half. Hinnant was called for a block on Gerry McNamara that looked to many observers like an offensive foul, the second time in less than a minute Hinnant suffered from a questionable call. Both times Hinnant walked away from the incident, attempting to control his emotions. Greenwood apparently felt Hinnant was disrespecting him by the look on his face, as Hinnant never opened his mouth before getting a technical, which counts as a personal foul in the college game.
The Eagles looked to be in dire straits without their floor general, but Steve Hailey, who played only six minutes against Rutgers last time out in his first game since injuring his ankle against St. John’s seven games earlier, took his place and lead the Eagles with aplomb. Although he did not score a point in the game, Hailey dished out five assists and didn’t turn the ball over in twenty-four solid minutes.
Craig Smith had an absolutely monster game, scoring 14 points and grabbing a career-high 15 rebounds against Syracuse’s fabled 2-3 zone. Smith battled inside all night long, getting hammered by two and three defenders at a time and not receiving very many favorable calls. Instead of disappearing or forcing shots, Smith set about crashing the boards, including 8 offensive rebounds, which allowed the Eagles to shred the zone with second-chance points.
Skinner said of his junior captain, “He’s clearly our anchor. When teams prepare for us, they prepare for him. And if they don’t prepare for him, they’re in for a long night.”
Another huge effort for the Eagles was provided by Jared Dudley, who along with his 21 points grabbed 5 rebounds, dished out 4 assists, and had 4 steals. Dudley drained three of his eight shots from behind the arc, including one immediately following Hinnant’s technical and two free throws from McNamara that had closed the gap to 41-35.
Just as importantly, the Eagles got the job done on the defensive end. They held Hakim Warrick- the explosive, All-American power forward- to just two points on three shots in the second half by muscling him out of prime post position. Perhaps more importantly, Skinner's defense did not allow Gerry McNamara to get many open looks from deep. Although McNamara led the Orange with 18 points, he shot only 2 of 11 from three.
“We try to play as physical as we can," said Dudley. "Every time we can lay some wood on people, that’s what we’re going to do. After a while, they’re going to start feeling it and they’re going to shy away.”
The Eagles actually never trailed after half time, a 29-27 deficit, but the end of the game tested the resolve of a constantly underestimated basketball team. Two Smith free throws were met immediately with a quick three from Louie McCroskey, as the Orange closed the lead to 58-55 with 1:06 remaining. Counting Smith’s two, the Eagles shot 11 free throws in the last 75 seconds of the game, making nine of them. The final made free throw margin, a plus-five to the Eagles, served as the difference in the game.
Not to be left out of the accolades were the two seniors, Nate Doornekamp and Jermaine Watson. Doornekamp scored only 3 points, but played perhaps the best full game of his life, crashing the boards for eight rebounds and using his often overlooked passing ability to hand out six crucial assists.
Watson, a reformed disaster at the foul line, is now the guy Al Skinner wants heading to the line in crunch time. Watson shot the last six free throws for the Eagles, hitting five of them, including the last four when the Orange cut the lead to 61-60. This is perhaps the best part of the victory- that two seniors who came to BC with high expectations, struggled, and have adapted to not being stars- were able to contribute so strongly to a major victory over a top-10 opponent.
Forgive the fans for charging the court, even as the unwritten rule is generally the correct one. The victory let out a flood of emotion- from the loss to Syracuse that would have given the Eagles’ football team a BCS bowl game, to the disparaging by many members of the national media about the veracity of this team’s record, to simply beating a team that many regard as the best in the Big East.
The team has long believed, the fans now believe, and so should the national media. This team is for real.