Boston College Athletics
Boston College
Michigan
Men's Hoops Tops Michigan
December 19, 1999 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 19, 1999
BOSTON (AP) - Boston College freshman point guard Troy Bell wasn't nearly as highly touted as Michigan's three standout freshman. But he certainly outshone them Sunday afternoon, scoring a game-high 28 points as the Eagles surprised the Wolverines 89-71.
"I knew (Boston College) needed a point guard and I wanted to come in and help out right away," said Bell, a 6-foot-1-inch playmaker from Minneapolis, who led the Eagles in scoring for the seventh straight game.
"They're all freshman," Bell said of his counterparts. "We knew we had to put the clamps on them."
Xavier Singletary scored 16 points and Jon Beerbohm had 14 points and 11 rebounds off the bench for the Boston College (6-2).
Freshman forward LaVell Blanchard had 25 points to lead the Wolverines (6-2). Freshman guards Jamal Crawford and Kevin Gaines had 17 and 13 points respectively.
"We looked like freshman today," Michigan coach Brian Ellerbe said.
Bell connected on 9-of-16 shots, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range.
Boston College, which led 40-30 at the half, held between an 11 and eight-point lead for the opening five minutes of the second half until Michigan went on a 13-3 run to tie it at 53-all. Blanchard scored nine points during the run.
The Eagles then broke it open with 25-6 run over the next 4:49.
"This is an indication of what kind of potential we can reach," Boston College coach Al Skinner said. "This was a big win for us."
After Michigan tied it at 53, the teams traded baskets before the Eagles scored the game's next 12. BC connected on 7-of-8 free throws during the key run, with Bell hitting three.
Following three free throws by the Wolverines, Boston College broke it open with a 13-3 run.
The Eagles used a match-up zone, confusing Michigan's guards en route to their 10-point lead at the break. Bell scored 14 of his points in the opening half, and Beerbohm had eight points and 10 rebounds.
