Eagles Fade as Virginia Defeats Boston College, 66-51
By Joe Micik
Virginia Defeats Boston College: The home-team Eagles kept the game close most of the way, but #2 Virginia was too much to handle in a 66-51 BC loss.
The defeat drops the Eagles to 8-8 (0-4) on the season, extending their conference losing streak to seven games in a row dating back to 2013-14. Virginia remains one of the nation’s two undefeated teams at 17-0.
Virginia Defeats Boston College: Game Synopsis
The game opened with a slow pace to the play, but few stoppages. The first media timeout did not come until almost nine minutes in, but with Boston College hanging around in a low-scoring effort.
And hanging around, and hanging around some more. Virginia never led in the game by more than a few, with the Eagles making the baskets they needed to keep the Cavaliers within sight range. The two Europeans, Will Magarity and Patrick Heckmann, had a few of those big shots to keep the Eagles close.
Boston College played adequate enough defense to hold the margin at a three-point deficit, 27-24, at the half. The Eagles got their opportunities against a tough Virginia defense while frustrating the Hoos on the other end. Virginia settled for lots on the outside and had some otherwise inefficient and unwise possessions in terms of shot selection.
The Eagles gave Virginia a big scare to open the second. BC came out and scored the first few baskets to take their first lead since early in the game, and thanks to the strength of Heckmann and Olivier Hanlan claimed a five-point lead in front of a packed Conte Forum.
It was at this point that Virginia clamped down and started playing some defense again. The Hoos scored the next eight points in a row and retook the lead, never looking back. Their lead held at five to seven points for much of the latter portions of the second half, but the Eagles then started missing some critical shots, turned it over, and failed to rebound as Virginia went up double-digits late to seal it.
Following Hanlan’s layup to make it a 38-33 Eagles lead, Virginia closed the final 14:09 of the game on a 33-13 run. All this was in spite of the fact that their leading scorer, Justin Anderson, made no baskets during the game (his eight points were all free throws).
Virginia Defeats Boston College: The Stats
Anthony Gill of UVA had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Malcolm Brogdon led all scorers with 20.
Olivier Hanlan had 18 points for BC in the loss, while Patrick Heckmann scored 15.
Boston College was badly outrebounded, to the tune of 35 to 20. Virginia corralled 13 offensive boards.
Virginia Defeats Boston College: Opinionating
The final score is not indicative of Boston College’s effort. They kept themselves in it for a good three-quarters or so before Virginia turned on the jets and the Eagles faded to black. It is something we have seen so many times with this team, and while it is not surprising at this point, it does make an Eagles fan a little disappointed that the players cannot finish games.
Boston College Eagles
Good teams find ways to win, even if they are not giving their best effort. Virginia did not go out there and blow the Eagles out of their own gym. Boston College was hardly mistake-free but until late, they limited the deficiencies and gave themselves a chance. The Hoos did what they needed to do, which does not include panicking or making dumb mental mistakes.
Boston College’s mental mistakes were not that bad, but one team rose up late and the other did not. The Eagles do not have the talent or depth to compete against a team like Virginia for a full 40 minutes. Perhaps someday, but the Eagles are not ready for their close-up.
Virginia Defeats Boston College: Next Up
The Eagles head back out on the road to face the Syracuse Orange on Tuesday night.