Boston College Eagles Blasted By #8 Miami Hurricanes, 72-50

Though Boston College hung with the Miami Hurricanes all the way through their first meeting, the #8 Hurricanes were destined to be far less accommodating this time. Miami defeated the Boston College Eagles, 72-50, in their ACC basketball conference game on Tuesday night in Coral Gables, FL. With the loss, the Eagles fall to 10-12 (2-7) on the season; there are nine regular-season games remaining.

Neither team got out of the gates particularly hot, but Miami got on the board first and went nearly wire-to-wire for the victory. Within the first nine minutes of the contest, the Hurricanes had stretched the lead to double-digits, and it would not fall below that until early in the second half. As BC opened the second, they scored two consecutive baskets to cut Miami’s lead to six, but after missing an open three-pointer, Miami re-seized the momentum, and a four-point play shortly thereafter buried the visiting Eagles. The lead never dipped into the single digits again, with Miami’s lead expanding beyond 20 points late in the final half and staying there.

Boston College was mostly non-competitive on the boards. At halftime, Miami’s rebounding advantage was 22-9, and the Hurricanes had more offensive rebounds (12) than BC did total rebounds. For the game, it was 39-27 in favor of Miami. The Hurricanes had a definitive size advantage and they were more physical than the Eagles, who for long stretches looked helpless to catch or shoot the basketball inside. Miami also did exceptionally well from beyond the arc, connecting on 11-of-21 while BC went just 5-for-24 from deep.

For the Eagles, this was a case of being completely outmatched by a superior team, but Boston College also played a poor basketball game. There were bad decisions made on both ends of the floor by the Eagles and the shooting was way off for several key players, such as Joe Rahon, who was invisible after his strong game against Clemson.  Olivier Hanlan led the Eagles with 16 points, but most of them came later in the second half when the game was already well out of reach.

BC was a total no-show in Coral Gables and they paid the consequences, but they must figure out a way to move on quickly for their own sakes: Duke awaits them in Conte Forum on Sunday.