Boston College Athletics
Men's Basketball Set To Host Hartford On Monday
November 28, 1999 | Men's Basketball
Hartford (1-1) at Boston College (2-1)
November 29, 1999 -- 7:30 p.m.
Silvio O. Conte Forum (8,606) -- Chestnut Hill, MA
MONDAY'S GAME: Boston College hosts Hartford in a non-league game at Conte Forum this evening. Hartford is the third America East opponent the Eagles have faced this season. The Eagles defeated New Hampshire and Vermont earlier this month.
WHO'S HOT: Junior forward Jonathan Beerbohm has been a positive contributor for the Eagles in the season's first three games. Currently averaging 8.3 points and 3.0 rebounds per game, Beerbohm registered 11 points (4-for-5 FG, 1-2 treys, 2-2 FT) and five rebounds in the most recent game -- at Penn State (Nov. 27) ... Freshman guard Troy Bell is averaging 17.0 points per game. He scored 27 points (11-for-15 FG, 5-for-6 treys) against Vermont (Nov. 23). His 27 points were the most by a Boston College freshman since Gerrod Abram netted 30 points in the BIG EAST-ACC Challenge in Richmond Coliseum on Dec. 3, 1990.
QUICK HITS: Boston College's bench has outscored its opponent's bench in each of the first three games. The BC reserves are averaging 32.3 points per game through three games, including a 52-point effort in the season opener against New Hampshire ... The BC scoring attack is evenly balanced between the points from returning players and points from the team's newcomers. Entering tonight's game, BC's returning players has scored 117 points, while the newcomers have tallied 120.
BOSTON COLLEGE'S PROBABLE STARTERS
| Pos. | No. | Name | Yr. | PPG, RPG | Last Game | |
| F | 3 | Michael Cotton | Sr. | 2.0, 3.3 | 2 pts., 1 reb. | |
| F | 13 | Kenny Harley | Jr. | 5.3, 3.0 | 8 pts., 4 reb. | |
| F | 45 | Brian Ross | So. | 7.0, 5.7 | 2 pts., 3 reb. | |
| G | 2 | Troy Bell | Fr. | 17.0, 2.7 | 12 pts., 4 ast. | |
| G | 23 | Xavier Singletary | Jr. | 15.3, 3.0 | 10 pts., 4 reb. |
WELCOME BACK: Tonight's game marks Hartford head coach Paul Brazeau's return to his alma mater. Brazeau, a 1981 BC graduate, also served four years as an assistant basketball coach at the Heights (1983-1987) ... Hartford associate head coach Stan Nance also served four years as an assistant at Boston College (1982-86).
THE SERIES AGAINST HARTFORD: Boston College has a 4-0 all-time record against the Hawks. The two teams last met on Dec. 23, 1995, with Boston College defeating Hartford, 106-67 in Conte Forum. Sophomore Antonio Granger led BC with 20 points, while junior Danya Abrams registered 17 points and 10 rebounds ... BC won the first meeting, 94-77, on Jan. 28, 1985. Current Hartford head coach Paul Brazeau was a full-time assistant coach to then Eagles' head coach Gary Williams at that time ... BC opened its 1993-94 season with a 90-65 home win over the Hawks (Nov. 27) ... BC also gained an 83-78 overtime win over Hartford at The Sports Center on Dec. 22, 1994. Abrams led BC with 41 points in the victory.
THE FIRST THREE GAMES
BC 89, New Hampshire 65 (Nov. 20, 1999, Conte Forum): Sophomore swingman Kenny Walls came off the bench to score 18 points to lead Boston College to an 89-65 season-opening win over New Hampshire. The game marked BC's 25th season-opening win in the last 26 years. Joining Walls in double figures for the Eagles were junior Xavier Singletary (16 points), freshman Troy Bell (12), junior Jonathan Beerbohm (11) and freshman Uka Agbai (10) ... BC led 47-34 at halftime, and shot 53.6 percent from the floor in the final 20 minutes to secure the victory ... BC made 19 steals, including 14 in the first half, and forced 26 turnovers ... The Eagles outrebounded UNH, 46-35.
Steals: BC registered 19 steals in the season-opening victory over New Hampshire, the most steals by a BC team since making 20 steals against Holy Cross on Nov. 27, 1995. Xavier Singletary led the Eagles with six steals (the most since Dwayne Pina recorded six steals against Holy Cross on Dec. 19, 1998).
BC 91, Vermont 63 (Nov. 23, 1999, Conte Forum): Freshman guard Troy Bell scored 27 points and junior guard Xavier Singletary netted 20 points to lead Boston College to a 91-63 home win over Vermont ... BC sophomore forward Brian Ross contributed 14 points and eight rebounds ... BC led by as many as 18 points in the first half, before settling for a 44-33 halftime advantage ... Vermont used a 12-6 run in the first three minutes of the second half to close to within five points (50-45). BC then answered with an 18-4 rally over the next seven minutes to secure the victory ... BC outrebounded Vermont, 42-31 ... The Eagles committed just 12 turnovers, while forcing 20 ... BC shot 52.3 percent from the field, including 56.7 percent in the second half.
Penn State 85, Boston College 57 (Nov. 27, 1999, Bryce Jordan Center): Freshman guard Troy Bell scored 12 points to lead three BC players in double figures in an 85-57 loss at Penn State. Junior Jonathan Beerbohm scored 11 points, while junior Xavier Singletary added 10 points ... BC shot just 33.3 percent from the field ... BC was outrebounded, 44-31 ... The Eagles led 30-27 with 6:28 remaining in the first half, but committed six turnovers before halftime as PSU went on a 22-4 run to take a 49-34 lead at the intermission. BC made just seven field goals (on 25.0 percent shooting from the field) in the final 20 minutes.
WHO'S BACK?: Boston College returns eight lettermen, including all five starters, from the 1998-99 season ... The 1999-2000 roster features two seniors, four juniors, three sophomores and five freshmen. One of the seniors, guard Dwayne Pina, has two years of eligibility remaining. One of the juniors, guard Xavier Singletary, is actually a newcomer. Singletary played two seasons at Howard University, before transferring to BC and sitting out last season.
1998-1999 RECAP: The 1998-99 Eagles finished with a 6-21 record, including a 3-15 BIG EAST mark.
GOOD NUMBERS: The Eagles return 81.4 percent of their scoring production from last season, including each of their top four scorers ... BC's returning players also accounted for 85.7 percent of last season's individual rebounding total.
67th SEASON: The 1999-2000 season marks the 67th season of varsity play for Boston College. The Eagles have an 862-701 (.552) overall record.
THE COACHES
THE HEAD COACH: Al Skinner is in his third season as the Eagles' head coach. Skinner assumed the head coaching duties at Boston College on April 17, 1997. A 1974 graduate of the University of Massachusetts, he starred on the Minutemen's basketball team. He finished his collegiate career with 1,252 points. A team captain as a senior, he has subsequently been elected to the University's Athletic Hall of Fame. Following his collegiate career, Skinner played professional basketball for six years -- with the New York Nets (ABA and NBA), Detroit Pistons (NBA), Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) and Joventut (Barcelona, Spain) ... He has a 23-38 record in two-plus seasons at the Heights. Prior to coming to BC, he enjoyed nine successful years at the University of Rhode Island. In his tenure at URI, Skinner had a 138-126 record, leading the Rams to two NCAA Tournament (1992-93 and 1996-97) and two NIT (1991-92 and 1995-96) bids ... Skinner has a career record of 161-164.
vs. Hartford: Now in his 12th season as a collegiate head coach, Al Skinner has a 2-2 record against Hartford -- with each of the meetings coming during Skinner's nine-year tenure at Rhode Island. Skinner's Rams lost to Hartford in each of the first two games (Dec. 5, 1989 and Dec. 22, 1990), then won the last two contests (Dec. 21, 1991 and Dec. 23, 1992).
THE ASSISTANT COACHES: Skinner is joined on the BC bench by associate head coach Tim O'Shea, assistant coaches Bill Coen and Ed Cooley, and administrative assistant Pat Duquette. Three of the four -- Coen, Cooley and former BC star guard O'Shea ('84) -- came with Skinner from Rhode Island, while Duquette came to BC from St. Michael's College.
PLAYER NOTES
#00 UKA AGBAI: The freshman forward is averaging 6.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game through three games ... He registered six points, six rebounds and two assists in 19 minutes at Penn State (Nov. 27) ... He recorded 10 points and four rebounds in his Boston College debut -- against New Hampshire (Nov. 20) ... Agbai came to Boston College from New York City's Archbishop Molloy High School, where he played for legendary head coach Jack Curran.
#2 TROY BELL: The freshman guard is the Eagles' top scorer through three games, averaging 17.0 points per game. He has registered 12 points in two of the first three games -- the season opener against New Hampshire (Nov. 20) and at Penn State (Nov. 27). In the other game -- against Vermont (Nov. 23) -- Bell poured in 27 points in 27 minutes ... He leads the Eagles in both three-point field goal percentage (50.0 percent, 7-for-14) and free-throw percentage (14-for-14).
#3 MICHAEL COTTON: The senior swingman is averaging 2.0 points and 3.3 rebounds in 12.3 minutes per game this season ... He averaged 10.0 points and 4.6 rebounds per game last winter ... He scored in double figures in 13 games, including four games with 20 or more points.
#4 JONATHAN BEERBOHM: The junior forward is averaging 8.3 points and 3.0 rebounds in 14.7 minutes per game this season. He has scored in double figures in two of the team's first three games ... Most recently, he registered 11 points and five rebounds at Penn State (Nov. 27) ... He played a productive 15 minutes in the season opener against New Hampshire, finishing with 11 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals ... He averaged 5.9 points and 2.6 rebounds per game in 27 games last winter. He led the Eagles in blocked shots with 28.
#5 DWAYNE PINA: The senior guard is averaging 2.7 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 14.7 minutes per game through three games this season ... He tallied five points (all free throws), two rebounds, two assists and three steals in 19 minutes against New Hampshire (Nov. 20) ... He averaged 4.3 points and 4.3 assists in a team-high 30.0 minutes per game last winter. He played in and started all 27 games ... Pina, who began the 1999-2000 season with two seasons of eligibility remaining, joined the team as a walk-on prior to the 1997-98 season, but quickly earned a scholarship.
#13 KENNY HARLEY: The junior guard is averaging 5.3 points, 3.3 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game through three games ... He registered eight points and four rebounds at Penn State (Nov. 27) ... In the Eagles' win over Vermont (Nov. 23), he tallied four points and handed out a career-high six assists in 22 minutes ... Last winter, he averaged a team-high 11.2 points per game. He also led the 1998-99 Eagles in both three-point field-goal percentage (41.6 percent) and free throw percentage (75.6 percent).
#21 KENNY WALLS: The sophomore swingman is the Eagles' third-leading scorer through three games, averaging 9.7 points per game. He scored a team-high 18 points in the Eagles' season opener against New Hampshire (Nov. 20) ... Last winter, he played in all 27 games, averaging 10.5 points per game ... Walls, the Eagles' "sixth man", came off the bench for 17 games last year, before starting the season's final 10 contests.
#23 XAVIER SINGLETARY: The junior guard is averaging 15.3 points in 28.3 minutes per game through three games this season. He has scored in double figures in each of the first three games ... He scored 20 points (7-for-12 FG, 3-for-7 three-pointers) in the Eagles' win over Vermont (Nov. 23) ... Singletary made his Boston College (regular-season) debut against New Hampshire (Nov. 20). He finished with 16 points and three rebounds in 30 minutes ... Singletary played his first two collegiate seasons at Howard, before transferring to Boston College and sitting out the 1998-99 season ... At Howard, he scored 933 points in two seasons (50 games). As a sophomore, he ranked ninth among the nation's Division I scoring leaders with a 22.3 ppg average.
#31 OSEI MILLAR: The sophomore forward is averaging 4.0 points and 3.7 rebounds per game through three games ... Millar recorded eight points, four rebounds and three steals in 15 minutes against New Hampshire (Nov. 20) ... In the win over Vermont (Nov. 23), he grabbed a career-high seven rebounds.
#32 ANDREW DUDLEY: The freshman forward/center recorded four points (2-for-3 FG) and four rebounds in six minutes against Vermont (Nov. 23) ... Dudley averaged 17.0 points and 15.0 rebounds per game at Life Center (N.J.) Academy last winter.
#45 BRIAN ROSS: The sophomore forward is averaging 7.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game through three games ... He registered 14 points (6-for-10 FG) and eight rebounds against Vermont (Nov. 23) ... He contributed five points and six rebounds in the season opener against New Hampshire (Nov. 20) ... Ross shot a team-high 46.5 percent from the field last winter.
THE EXHIBITION GAMES
EXHIBITION #1: Two newcomers -- junior guard Xavier Singletary and freshman guard Troy Bell -- combined for 46 points to lead BC to a 109-93 victory over the BABC All-Stars on Nov. 8. Singletary scored a team-high 24 points, while Bell netted 22 points. Junior guard Kenny Harley added 20 points for the Eagles ... BC led 45-41 at halftime, but began the second half with a 16-4 run to take a commanding 61-45 lead with 17:08 remaining.
EXHIBITION #2: Freshman guard Troy Bell scored 20 points and sophomore forward Brian Ross netted 15 points to lead BC to an 87-86 overtime win over the Upstate New York All-Stars on Nov. 15. Joining Bell and Ross in double figures for the Eagles were junior guard Xavier Singletary (13 points), sophomore swingman Kenny Walls (12) and junior forward Jonathan Beerbohm (10) ... BC committed just 12 turnovers, while forcing 18 from the visitors.
MEDIA NOTES
ON RADIO: Boston College basketball games can be heard on SportsRadio 850 WEEI (AM), Boston's 50-thousand watt all-sports radio station. Ted Sarandis is in his fifth season as the voice of the basketball Eagles. The 1999-2000 campaign marks his 23rd season describing the bouncing ball. He holds the unique distinction of having called play-by-play for all four Division I institutions in Boston -- Boston College, Boston University, Harvard and Northeastern -- as well as Holy Cross. In addition, the Boston native is host of the popular 'Ted Nation" talk show, heard weeknights from 7 p.m.-midnight on SportsRadio 850 WEEI. Joining Sarandis is Bill Newell. Newell is in his third season with the basketball Eagles. He previously spent four seasons calling the action for the Boston College hockey team. Newell has also served as the play-by-play voice of Harvard football ... Boston College basketball can also be heard on WZBC-FM (90.3).
ON THE WEB: All Boston College basketball games can also be heard on the Internet at www.bceagles.com.
UP NEXT: The Eagles return to action against Massachusetts on Saturday, Dec. 4. Game time is 1 p.m. in Conte Forum ... The Boston College women's basketball team will host Kent State on Saturday, Dec. 4 at 4 p.m.
OUR RECORD WHEN...
BC shoots 50 percent or better: 1-0 BC shoots 40-49 percent: 1-0 BC shoots 30-39 percent: 0-1 BC shoots below 30 percent: 0-0Opponent shoots 50 percent or better: 0-1 Opponent shoots 40-49 percent: 2-0 Opponent shoots 30-39 percent: 0-0 Opponent shoots below 30 percent: 0-0
BC shoots better from field 2-0 BC shoots same/worse from field 0-1
BC leads at half: 2-0 BC is tied at half: 0-0 BC is losing at half: 0-1
BC commits fewer turnovers: 2-0 BC commits more turnovers: 0-1 Turnovers are even 0-0
BC outrebounds opponent: 2-0 BC is outrebounded: 0-1 Rebounds are even 0-0
BC shoots 70 percent or better FT 0-1 BC hits more free throws 2-1
BC scores less than 50 points 0-0 BC scores 50-59 points 0-1 BC scores 60-69 points 0-0 BC scores 70-79 points 0-0 BC scores 80 or more points 2-0
Opponent scores less than 50 points 0-0 Opponent scores 50-59 points 0-0 Opponent scores 60-69 points 2-0 Opponent scores 70-79 points 0-0 Opponent scores 80 or more points 0-1
BC bench outscores opponent bench 2-1
Game is decided by 1-4 points 0-0 Game is decided by 5-10 points 0-0 Game is decided by 11 points or more 2-1
In overtime 0-0
