Boston College Athletics
Boston College
Boston University
Men's Basketball Wins Season Opener
November 18, 2001 | Men's Basketball
Nov 18, 2001
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Senior swingman Kenny Walls scored a game-high 21 points to lead five Boston College players in double figures as the host Eagles opened their season with an 81-65 victory over Boston University.
The game marked the first time BC and BU have played since Jan. 30, 1981, when Dr. Tom Davis led the Eagles and Rick Pitino coached the Terriers. BC won that game, 57-52, in the Boston Garden.
Joining Walls in double figures for BC were sophomore Ryan Sidney (12 points), junior Troy Bell (11), freshman Jermaine Watson (11) and junior Uka Agbai (10). Sidney led BC with seven rebounds and a career-high eight assists.
Paced by 11 early points from Walls, Boston College jumped out to a 17-7 lead with 14:49 to play. Boston University answered with a 13-6 run over the next six minutes to close the BC advantage to just three points, 23-20. The host Eagles closed the half with a 24-6 run to gain a 47-26 lead at the intermission. Sidney scored 10 of his 12 points in BC's late rally. Walls added eight points, including two more three-pointers, to finish the half with 19 points.
Boston College extended its lead to as many as 33 points -- 66-33 -- with 13:04 to play.
Boston University (1-2) was led by junior Billy Collins' 12-point, 11-rebound effort. Freshman Chaz Carr added 11 points, and sophomore Jason Grochowalski netted 10 points.
Game Notes: Boston College recorded 16 steals, including a career-high six by Agbai ... Walls' 21-point effort was his best since scoring 21 points at Rutgers on Feb. 13, 1999 ... BC had five players score in double figures for the first time since Feb. 4, 2001 against Villanova ... BC forced 24 turnovers ... BC shot 45.6 percent from the field, while BU shot 34.6 percent ... BC shot 9-for-18 from three-point range, including a blistering 61.5 percent (8-for-13) in the first half.
