Boston College
Connecticut*
Men's Basketball Loses To No. 6 UConn
January 31, 2004 | Men's Basketball
Jan 31, 2004
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Sophomore Craig Smith scored 18 points while senior Uka Agbai and sophomore Louis Hinnant each netted 10 points to lead Boston College in a 63-58 BIG EAST loss to sixth-ranked Connecticut before a sellout crowd of 8,606 in Conte Forum.
The host Eagles held the lead for all but 40 seconds in the first half and for nearly 30 minutes (29:49) in the contest, but the Huskies secured the victory with a 10-5 run in the game's final three minutes.
BC tied the score for the final time - at 53-53 -- when freshman Jared Dudley hit two free throws with 3:41 remaining in the contest. Connecticut answered with the game's next five points to take a 58-53 advantage with 1:55 to play. Two free throws by Hinnant and one free throw by junior Jermaine Watson narrowed the UConn lead to 58-56 with 41.2 seconds to play.
The Eagles fouled Connecticut guard Taliek Brown with 24.4 seconds on the clock. Brown missed both free throws, but teammate Josh Boone scored off the offensive rebound to extend the lead to 60-56.
Connecticut hit 3-of-4 free throws in the final 10 seconds to secure the victory.
Boston College made 13 field goals and forced 11 Connecticut turnovers in the first half and led 30-29 at the intermission. The Eagles scored the first six points of the second half to gain their largest lead - seven points - with 17:04 to play.
Game Notes: Connecticut gained a 38-34 rebounding edge ... Smith and Dudley tied for team-high rebounding honors with seven each ... Dudley also contributed seven points, four steals and a career-best seven assists ... Boston College shot 10-for-12 from the foul line. The Eagles didn't attempt a free throw until Nate Doornekamp stepped to the line with 8:56 to play in the second half. Doornekamp hit both ends of the 1-and-1 ... The Eagles were credited with 15 assists on 22 field goals ... BC made four three-point field goals, all in the first half ... BC committed just 10 turnovers. Connecticut committed 16 miscues.
