Florida State 74, Boston College 70: Eagles Again Unable to Close
By Joe Micik
Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Boston College Eagles basketball went into Tuesday night’s game against the Florida State Seminoles with many losses, and you know what they say about bad teams: they find ways to lose.
On Tuesday night at Conte Forum, Boston College found a way to lose again. In another close one, the Eagles were defeated by the Seminoles, 74-70, in the final home game of the year. With the loss, the Eagles fell to 8-22 (4-13) on the season while Florida State keeps its NCAA Tournament bubble hopes alive.
The game was close throughout, with literally dozens of ties and lead changes from start to finish. At half, the game was tied 33-33, with Boston College having made seven three-pointers. Finally, with six minutes to go in regulation, it seemed as though the Eagles were starting to gain some distance, taking their biggest lead of the game at five, 62-57. Florida State would score the next five to re-tie the game, and from there the two teams bobbed around the even mark, taking the lead from one another.
The Seminoles would take a 69-68 lead with 1:32 to go, and then the Eagles would turn over the ensuing possession. Florida State made one of two at the line to move ahead 70-68, but the Eagles turned it over again, losing the inbounds pass on an unforced error, and the Seminoles once more went one for two, now up 71-68.
Olivier Hanlan, the Eagles’ team leader with 20 points, would make it a 71-70 game while Florida State converted two free throws on the subsequent foul. Down 73-70 with the ball, Boston College missed two wide-open three-point looks in several seconds and ultimately gave up possession with just under two seconds to go.
Florida State’s Aaron Thomas led all scorers with 26. Boston College’s Ryan Anderson had a very quiet day, scoring seven and having no points until the second half. Patrick Heckmann had 13 off the bench and Danny Rubin scored three on his senior night.
Boston College committed 16 turnovers in the loss, compared to the Seminoles’ 11.
Like the inscription atop the entrance to Dante’s Inferno, it’s “abandon all hope, ye who enter here” for this basketball program. The Eagles threw the fans a bone with the Syracuse win, but otherwise, this season — and indeed the last three years — have been replete with disappointment. On Tuesday night, Boston College once again found a way to lose a game it could have won. If “almost” counted in the standings for something, Steve Donahue might be coming back next year, but it doesn’t. Losses like this one are the expected norm.
Boston College shot the ball well, except for right at the very end, but the story of their night was the stupid mistakes which we have seen time and time again. Hanlan losing the inbounds pass at the end of the game was just one of them.
The Eagles close the 2013-14 regular season at North Carolina State on Sunday night.