Boston College-UNH Final Score: Eagles Claim 58-50 Win in Opener

Boston College-UNH Final: On Friday night at Conte Forum, Boston College Eagles men’s basketball won its 2014-15 season opener over the New Hampshire Wildcats, 58-50.

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The Eagles, without newcomer Idy Diallo indefinitely due to a torn meniscus, move to a 1-0 start under new head coach Jim Christian with the victory.

Boston College, unlike the better part of the last few seasons, were able to use some semblance of a defense to ride to victory, though against a poor-shooting New Hampshire team.

The game began very slowly for both teams, though New Hampshire climbed out to an early 9-2 lead. Boston College steadily worked themselves back into the game with Olivier Hanlan and Aaron Brown’s emergence. The Eagles took the lead in the latter part of the first half and never trailed again, going on a long scoring run.

In the second, Boston College led all the way, typically by double-digits. Though it looked like it might be a win of blowout proportions given New Hampshire’s very cold shooting, UNH made it more interesting late, closing a double-digit lead to within six in the final minute before the Eagles closed the door at the free throw line.

Boston College-UNH Final: Stat Breakdown

The Eagles shot just shy of 36 percent from the field, while New Hampshire managed just 31 percent themselves. Boston College officially went just 1-for-19 from three-point range, with Olivier Hanlan making the only good shot.

Hanlan was second on the team in points with 17, but transfer student Aaron Brown stole the show with 21 to lead all scorers.

Boston College-UNH Final: Bottom Line

This team rarely does anything easily. It would only be too perfect for the team and the fans if it were a nice, neat win for Boston College, but it never is. Nevertheless, regardless of opponent, the Eagles are 1-0 on the year, which is more than they could say last season.

Boston College’s defense carried the day and was good enough for the team to win, disrupting New Hampshire, forcing turnovers, and holding them to just barely over 30 percent from the floor. If there was a problem for the Eagles there, it is that the defense let up a bit late and UNH made the score respectable from their perspective.

A more major concern was the Eagles’ poor shooting. Brown and Hanlan individually had good performances, but as a team, the Eagles were only barely warmer from the floor than UNH. 1-for-19 from three looked like shades of the Donahue era.

Do not make the mistake of reading much into the performance, good or bad, as the opposition will only get more difficult from here, and much can happen between here and March.

Boston College-UNH Final: Next Up

The Eagles will return to action on Sunday afternoon at the TD Garden as they face the Massachusetts Minutemen in the Coaches vs. Cancer tripleheader.