Boston College
Massachusetts
Men's Basketball Defeats Massachusetts, 79-67
December 23, 2009 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 23, 2009
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Juniors Corey Raji and Joe Trapani each scored 18 points and classmate Rakim Sanders totaled 15 points to lead Boston College to a 79-67 Commonwealth Classic victory over Massachusetts before 6,519 fans in Conte Forum.
Sophomore Reggie Jackson registered 13 points, eight rebounds and five assists (and no turnovers) for the Eagles.
BC never trailed in the contest.
With the score tied at 40-40, the host Eagles used a 16-4 run over a four-minute stretch (14:17 to 10:02) to gain a commanding 56-44 advantage. Raji scored eight points and Sanders handed out three assists in this decisive run.
BC maintained its 12-point advantage (60-48) for nearly three minutes, before the Minutemen rallied. Massachusetts ran off seven straight points - on five free throws and one field goal - to narrow the margin to five points with 4:53 to play.
Trapani snapped the UMass scoring run with a crucial three-pointer with 4:28 remaining. After the visitors recorded a field goal, Sanders hit another three-pointer to vault BC to a 66-57 lead with 3:09 to play. Raji added a field goal with 2:47 remaining to give the home team a double-digit cushion.
BC sank 9-of-10 free-throw attempts in the final two-plus minutes to secure the victory.
The Eagles led by as many as five points four times in the first half, before Massachusetts scored the final four points to leave BC with a one-point lead (26-25) at the break.
Neither team shot well in the first 20 minutes. While both teams made 12 first-half field goals, Massachusetts shot 35.3 percent from the floor and BC shot 32.4 percent.
The second half was a different story for the Eagles. BC shot 58.1 percent (18-for-31) in the second half. Massachusetts shot a slightly-improved 38.2 percent.
Game Notes: Sanders registered a career-high eight assists, including five in the first eight minutes of the second half (four of which resulted in lay-ups) ... BC committed just six turnovers - three in each half ... BC finished with 22 assists on 30 baskets ... Raji scored all 18 of his points in the second half. The junior shot 0-for-5 from the floor in the first half and 9-for-11 in the second half ... Trapani and Jackson each recorded three steals ... Junior Josh Southern provided a big first-half spark, totaling six points (3-for-3 FG) in four minutes of action ... BC was outrebounded, 50-33.
