Boston College Athletics
Boston College
Villanova*
Men's Hoops Falls To Villanova, 94-83
January 22, 2003 | Men's Basketball
VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) - Gary Buchanan scored 27 points and four other Villanova players were in double figures to lift the Wildcats to a 94-83 victory over Boston College on Wednesday night.
Allan Ray had 18 points and Jason Fraser added 13 while Ricky Wright scored 12 and Randy Foye had 11 for Villanova (12-5, 5-0 Big East).
Troy Bell had a game-high 31 points, including 18 in the second half, for Boston College (8-7, 1-3) while Craig Smith scored 19 and Ryan Sidney had 14.
Ray and Buchanan combined for 23 points in the first half to lift the Wildcats to a 38-32 halftime lead. Villanova's defense forced Boston College into 13 turnovers before the break.
Boston College trailed 31-14 before Bell scored eight points in a 12-0 run that helped the Eagles cut the Wildcats' lead to six at the half.
Bell's layup with 14:49 remaining drew Boston College to within two, 50-48, before Buchanan's 3-pointer kicked off a 10-0 run that gave the Wildcats a 60-48 advantage.
League-leading Villanova went 33-for-40 from the foul line. Boston College made 13 of 19 free throws. The Wildcats had not recorded five straight wins to open a Big East season since 1982-83.
