Boston College Athletics
Bell, Smith Gain BIG EAST Weekly Honors
February 24, 2003 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 24, 2003
Boston College senior guard Troy Bell earned BIG EAST Player of the Week honors and freshman teammate Craig Smith gained BIG EAST Co-Rookie of the Week honors for the week ending Feb. 23, according to an announcement made by the league office.
Both players were honored for their play in the team's victory over Virginia Tech (Feb. 19).
The honor marks the fourth time this season that Bell has been recognized as the league's player of the week. The senior guard has earned BIG EAST player of the week honors nine times in his career, the most of any active player. For Smith, this week's award marks the fifth time this season he's gained the league's weekly rookie honor.
Bell gained the honor after scoring 29 points on 9-for-13 shooting from the field in the Eagles' 87-69 home victory over Virginia Tech. Bell hit 6-of-8 three-point attempts in the contest.
Bell currently leads the BIG EAST Conference in scoring, averaging 25.3 points per game in all games and 27.2 points per game in league contests. Bell has scored 20 or more points in 19 of 23 games this season. He has scored 30 or more points five times.
Bell is the Eagles' all-time leading scorer with 2,432 points. He surpassed Dana Barros' career total of 2,342 in BC's win at Providence on Feb. 12. Barros played for the Eagles from 1985-89.
Smith captured his fifth rookie accolade after tallying 26 points and nine rebounds in BC's win over Virginia Tech.
Smith currently ranks seventh on the BIG EAST scoring list (all games), averaging 20.6 points per game. He leads the league in field goal percentage (.597) and ranks sixth in rebounding (8.0 rpg). Smith has scored 20 or more points in 14 games this season.
Boston College currently has a 14-9 record, including a 7-5 BIG EAST mark. The Eagles have won six of their last seven games.
BC returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 26 against St. John's. Game time is 7:30 p.m. in Madison Square Garden.
