Boston College Athletics
Boston College
Miami*
Men's Basketball Defeats Miami, 76-65
February 15, 2003 | Men's Basketball
Feb 15, 2003
By JIMMY GOLEN
AP Sports Writer
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Troy Bell scored 34 points, hitting two key 3-pointers in the second half, as Boston College beat Miami on Saturday for its fifth win in six games.
Freshman Louis Hinnant had 10 for BC (13-9, 6-5 Big East), converting a three-point play to start a 13-5 second-half run after Miami cut the deficit to 45-43. He added a 3-pointer that put the Eagles up by 10, 66-56 with 3:40 to play.
James Jones had 21 points and 10 rebounds and Darius Rice had 13 points and 10 boards for Miami (10-11, 3-7). The Hurricanes lost for the fourth time in six games to fall into last place in the conference's East Division, putting them in danger of being left out of the 12-team Big East tournament.
Bell, who was 12-for-13 from the line, has averaged just under 30 points over the last eight games, and on Wednesday he surpassed Dana Barros to become the school's career scoring leader. Bell had 18 points in the first half, when BC shot 58 percent to take a 38-31 halftime lead.
Miami cut the deficit to two points with a 7-2 run that made it 45-43 with 14:27 left. The Hurricanes had a chance to tie, but Craig Smith stole the ball under their basket and dribbled it out before a bounce pass to Hinnant set up his layup and free throw.
Bell followed with a 3-pointer with 13 minutes to play that made it 51-43. After Jones hit a layup, Bell hit another 3.
Ismael N'Diaye converted a three-point play, but Smith scored in the lane and Ryan Sidney scored a reverse layup to complete the 13-5 run and give BC a 58-48 lead.
Game Notes: In a ceremony prior to today's game, Troy Bell was presented the game ball from Wednesday's victory at Providence. In that game, Bell became the Eagles' career scoring leader ... Bell's 34-point effort against the Hurricanes marked a season high. His previous high was 33 points, set at Providence just three nights earlier. The Miami game also marked his 13th career game with 30 or more points. He has scored at least 30 points five times this season, including four times in the last eight games ... Bell notched 18 first-half points against the Hurricanes. He has now scored 18 or more points in one half seven times this season. He has registered 20 or more points in 12 halves in his collegiate career ... BC limited Miami to 65 points, the lowest point total by a BIG EAST opponent against the Eagles this season ... Freshman Johnnie Jackson scored three points in a career-high 12-minute effort ... Junior Andrew Bryant missed the game while attending his mother's funeral in Texas.
