Boston College
Maine
Eagles Victorious In Season Opener
November 19, 2004 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 19, 2004
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CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Sophomore forward Jared Dudley registered a game-high 23 points to lead Boston College to a 72-58 season-opening victory over Maine before 4,284 fans in Conte Forum.
Dudley shot 8-for-13 from the field and 7-for-8 from the foul line. He also led the Eagles in assists (five) and steals (three), while tying for team-high honors with seven rebounds.
Classmate Sean Marshall tallied 17 points and junior guard Louis Hinnant added 11 points for the Eagles.
BC played without senior Jermaine Watson (violation of team rules) and junior Craig Smith (illness).
Freshman Akida McLain, making his collegiate debut in the starting line-up, contributed six points on 3-for-3 shooting from the field. Classmates Sean Williams and Gordon Watt were equally impressive. Williams posted seven points, seven rebounds, four blocked shots and three assists, while Watt recorded five points, three assists and two rebounds. Together the freshman trio shot 8-for-10 from the floor.
Boston College led by one point at halftime (35-34), but didn't claim the lead for good until Hinnant sank two free throws with 13:53 remaining in the contest.
The visiting Black Bears led by as many as six points three times in the opening half. BC rallied to take a five-point lead before settling for the one-point halftime margin. After Maine used an 11-7 run early in the second half to take a 45-42 lead, the Eagles answered with a decisive 11-0 rally in the game's next five minutes.
Maine twice narrowed its deficit to two points - the final time at 55-53 with 5:08 to play. BC sank 9-of-10 free throws in the final minutes and closed the game with a 17-5 run.
Maine, which made 10 three-point field goals, was led by junior Ernest Turner's 18-point effort. Junior Kevin Reed added 11 for the Black Bears.
Game Notes: BC shot 51.0 percent from the field - 51.7 percent in the first half, 50.0 percent in the second half ... Hinnant played a game-high 39 minutes ... The BC defense clamped down in the final 20 minutes. After Maine shot 50.0 percent from the field in the first half, the Eagles held the visitors to 32.3 percent shooting after the intermission.
