Wednesday, November 6
Chestnut Hill, Mass.
6 p.m.
Boston College
1-0,1-0ACC
77
vs
70
Wake Forest
0-1,0-1ACC
1
2
F
Wake Forest
27
43
70
Boston College
42
35
77
Photo by: John Quackenbos
Three in Double Figures as Eagles Down Wake, 77-70
November 06, 2019 | Men's Basketball
Thornton leads BC with 23 points; Popovic adds 19, Heath has 18
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- Derryck Thornton led three Boston College players in scoring with a career-high 23 points as the Eagles downed Wake Forest, 77-70, in the season and ACC opener for both teams.
Thornton was 7-of-14 from the floor, including 2-of-3 from the perimeter. He added four rebounds, two assists, and three steals in 34 minutes in his BC debut.
Nik Popovic added 19 points, while Jay Heath had 18 points in his collegiate debut.
BC used an 11-0 run midway through the first half to pull away for good, turning a 9-7 deficit into an 18-9 lead with 11:13 to go. The Eagles would build as much as a 18-point lead, after two free throws from Popovic made it 42-24 with 27 seconds left in the half. Wake would knock down a 3-pointer as time expired, making it 42-27 at the break. BC would commit one turnover over the first 20 minutes of play, while forcing 10 Demon Deacon turnovers.
In the second half, the Eagles' defense offense continued to pace their offense. A Thornton steal led to a transition layup, giving BC a 19-point edge - 48-29 - with 17:43 to play. Wake Forest would chip away at the lead, using a 12-4 to get within eight points - 57-49 - with 8:26 left.
The Demon Deacons got no closer than seven points, as Boston College made 8-of-10 from the free throw line over the final minute of play to seal the victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
The BC starting backcourt enjoyed an efficient opening night. Jay Heath led the Eagles with an efficiency rating of 22. Derryck Thornton posted an EFF mark of 20. Two others - Nik Popovic (13) and Steffon Mitchell (12) - were also in double digits. Efficiency rating is calculated using the following formula: (PTS + REB + AST + STL + BLK - Missed Shots - TO)
UP NEXT:
Boston College travels to Tampa, Fla,. to take on USF on Sunday, Nov. 10. Tipoff is set for noon at the Yuengling Center and the can be seen live nationally on the CBS Sports Network.
The game can also be heard on the BC Learfield IMG College Sports Network, with Josh Maurer and Danya Abrams.
Thornton was 7-of-14 from the floor, including 2-of-3 from the perimeter. He added four rebounds, two assists, and three steals in 34 minutes in his BC debut.
Nik Popovic added 19 points, while Jay Heath had 18 points in his collegiate debut.
BC used an 11-0 run midway through the first half to pull away for good, turning a 9-7 deficit into an 18-9 lead with 11:13 to go. The Eagles would build as much as a 18-point lead, after two free throws from Popovic made it 42-24 with 27 seconds left in the half. Wake would knock down a 3-pointer as time expired, making it 42-27 at the break. BC would commit one turnover over the first 20 minutes of play, while forcing 10 Demon Deacon turnovers.
In the second half, the Eagles' defense offense continued to pace their offense. A Thornton steal led to a transition layup, giving BC a 19-point edge - 48-29 - with 17:43 to play. Wake Forest would chip away at the lead, using a 12-4 to get within eight points - 57-49 - with 8:26 left.
The Demon Deacons got no closer than seven points, as Boston College made 8-of-10 from the free throw line over the final minute of play to seal the victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- The backcourt of Derryck Thornton and Jay Heath combined to score 42 points on the night. The duo dished out six assists, while committing one turnover.
- Nik Popovic scored 12 of his 19 points in the second half.
- After missing his first two field goal attempts, Jay Heath connected on 7-of-9 from the floor over the final 24 minutes of the game.
- In 34 minutes of play, Steffon Mitchell led Boston College in rebounding (9), assists (4), and blocks (1). He added two steals - both coming in the first half.
- Freshmen CJ Felder, Julian Rishwain, and Kamari Williams all saw their first collegiate action. Felder played close to 15 minutes, totaling five points, five boards, and a block. Rishwain tallied four points, two assists, and three steals in 16 minutes, while Williams played close to seven minutes.
- 38 of BC's 77 points came in the paint.
- Jared Hamilton added five points and three rebounds - all on the offensive glass - in 24 minutes.
- Boston College connected on 43.5% from the floor, including 6-of-18 from beyond the arc. The Eagles made 17-of-27 free throw attempts.
- +16 - BC held an 18-2 advantage in points off turnovers. The Eagles' defense forced 17 turnovers.
The BC starting backcourt enjoyed an efficient opening night. Jay Heath led the Eagles with an efficiency rating of 22. Derryck Thornton posted an EFF mark of 20. Two others - Nik Popovic (13) and Steffon Mitchell (12) - were also in double digits. Efficiency rating is calculated using the following formula: (PTS + REB + AST + STL + BLK - Missed Shots - TO)
UP NEXT:
Boston College travels to Tampa, Fla,. to take on USF on Sunday, Nov. 10. Tipoff is set for noon at the Yuengling Center and the can be seen live nationally on the CBS Sports Network.
The game can also be heard on the BC Learfield IMG College Sports Network, with Josh Maurer and Danya Abrams.
Team Stats
WAKE
BC
FG%
.419
.435
3FG%
.357
.333
FT%
.765
.630
RB
45
34
TO
17
7
STL
2
9
Game Leaders
Pts
23
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
7
Pts
19
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballMen's Basketball: Tulane Postgame Press Conference (Nov. 23, 2025)
Monday, November 24
Men’s Hockey: Maine Press Conference (Head Coach Greg Brown - Nov. 22, 2025)
Sunday, November 23
Men’s Hockey: Maine Press Conference (Nov. 21, 2025)
Saturday, November 22
Men's Basketball: Davidson Press Conference (Nov. 21, 2025)
Friday, November 21
