BC’s long-range plan works in bombardment of Virginia Tech
It would not be an understatement to say that Boston College’s second Atlantic Coast Conference victory of the season was rooted in its first. BC’s blueprint for success in Wednesday night’s 76-52 victory over Virginia Tech was forged earlier in the month when the Eagles traveled to Blacksburg and escaped with a 62-59 triumph after Lonnie Jackson drained a winning 3-point shot.
This time, the Eagles landed more than just a parting shot in their 24-point romp, their second-biggest ACC victory since a 39-point triumph over Wake Forest in 2008.
Joe Rahon scored a team-high 20 points for the Eagles on 7-for-10 shooting. He hit 5 of 7 from 3-point range to lead BC’s bombardment of the Hokies from distance, where the Eagles (6-14, 2-5) connected on 14 of 36 attempts to tie a Conte Forum record for makes.
Ryan Anderson chipped with 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots while Patrick Heckmann had 14 points and Olivier Hanlan added 11.
Jarell Eddie scored a game-high 23 points and added 10 points for the Hokies (8-12, 1-7).
Having recorded their only win of the month — and in conference play — at Virginia Tech Jan. 11, the Eagles appeared rested and ready to duplicate the feat after taking a week off following a 68-60 setback to Georgia Tech at Conte Forum Jan. 21.
The extra time off seemed to benefit the Eagles, who shot 68 percent (13 for 19, including 7 of 12 from behind the 3-point arc) in the first half to streak to a 46-33 lead over the Hokies at the break.
It was BC’s biggest halftime lead since taking a 12-point lead over Washington in an 89-78 nonconference triumph Nov. 22 in New York. It was BC’s first lead at the break since a 67-50 home victory over Philadelphia Dec. 15.
Rahon led the Eagles with 13 first-half points.
The Eagles streaked to a 16-7 lead after Heckmann drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key with six minutes gone. Heckmann’s dagger, one of four BC 3-pointers in that opening stretch, came on the heels of BC’s zone defense inducing the Hokies to turn it over on a 35-second shot clock violation.
Eddie, the smooth 6-foot-7-inch senior forward who led the Hokies with 19 first-half points, then went on a tear, scoring 10 of Virginia Tech’s next 12 points. They included the last 7 in a row on an offensive putback, a foul-line fadeaway, and a foul-inducing driving layup that cut BC’s lead to 26-19 with 8:47 to go.
That after Eddie was held to 10 points on 3-for-14 shooting in the previous meeting against BC in Blacksburg.
The Eagles three times led by as many as 12 points (31-19, 33-21 and 35-23) before Jackson knocked down a trey with 4:06 remaining to give BC its biggest lead of the half, 38-23.
Eddie answered with a 3-pointer of his own and Ben Emelogu followed with a driving runner to cut BC’s lead to 38-28. Jackson went to the line for a pair of foul shots that gave the Eagles a 12-point cushion, 40-28, but Eddie hit another 3-pointer to pull the Hokies within 40-31 with 2:39 left.
Rahon triggered and capped a 6-2 spurt in the final two minutes by hitting a 3-pointer and scoring on a driving scoop along the baseline to give the Eagles their 13-point cushion at intermission.
Hanlan came out in the second half and knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to give BC a whopping 21-point lead, 54-33, with 18:24 to go. But he found himself taking a seat after he was called for his third personal after Devin Wilson collided with him while driving to the basket. Hanlan protested the call and was hit with a technical, his fourth personal.
The Hokies converted on three of four foul shots, with Eddie hitting both technicals, to cut BC’s lead to 18, 54-36, but Eagles coach Steve Donahue called a timeout when he sensed things were beginning to get out of control after Rahon was called for his first personal.
Heckmann, who entered for Hanlan, caused Conte to erupt when he knocked down back-to-back treys that expanded BC’s lead to 24, 60-36. It was all the buffer the Eagles would need as they controlled the action in the remaining 16 minutes to snap a three-game losing skid in breezy fashion.
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