Boston College Athletics
Men's Basketball To Play At Fairfield In NIT
March 16, 2003 | Men's Basketball
March 16, 2003
Boston College has accepted an invitation to the 2003 National Invitation Tournament and will open play against Fairfield on Tuesday, March 18 at the Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, Conn. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
BC will enter the tournament with an 18-11 record. The Eagles were co-champions of the BIG EAST's East Division, finishing with a 10-6 conference mark. The league crown is BC's second in the last three years.
Fairfield, a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, will enter the tournament with a 19-11 record, including a 13-5 league record.
Boston College is led by senior guard Troy Bell, who earned 2002-03 BIG EAST Player of the Year honors. The school's career scoring leader, he is currently averaging 25.4 points per game. Freshman Craig Smith leads the Eagles' frontcourt attack, averaging 19.8 ppg. Smith gained All-BIG EAST second team honors and BIG EAST All-Rookie Team honors this season.
For Boston College, 2003 marks the program's 10th appearance in the National Invitation Tournament. BC has a 15-10 all-time record in the NIT. The Eagles last participated in the NIT in 1993, defeating Niagara and Rice before losing to Providence in the quarterfinal round.
