Eagles Set to Honor Troy Bell; Host Hokies on Saturday

Troy Bell Bobblehead:
Fans arriving early to tomorrow's game will receive a free Troy Bell bobblehead. The jersey retirement ceremony for the former BC All-American will take place at halftime.

Pre-Game Fan Fest:
Prior to Saturday's game, there will be a Fan Fest held in Power Gym, beginning at 1 p.m. There will be inflatables, face painting, and much more.

Clear Bag Policy:
A clear bag policy will be in effect for all men's basketball games at Conte Forum. Approved bags for entrance to Conte Forum include a clear plastic bag that does not exceed 12"x12"x6", a one-gallon sized clear plastic bag, or a small clutch wristlet or handheld wallet.

Concessions:
All concessions (with the exception of alcohol) will be discounted by 50% pre-game, prior to tip-off. Kids fare is available in Conte Forum and all items will be $1.50, including Uncrustables peanut butter and jelly sandwich, Goldfish snack crackers, and "kid popular" bottled drinks provided by Coca-Cola.

Saturday's concession special: $2 souvenir sodas all game long.

Merchandise:
All fans arriving early are eligible to purchase one item from the Conte Forum merchandise shop for 25% up until tip-off.

Preferred Mutual Family Section:
The Preferred Mutual Family Section will ensure a positive gameday experience for fans of all ages in an area that promotes sportsmanship and good behavior. Special youth pricing will be available in the family section. For more information, call the BC Athletics box office at (617) 552-GoBC.

BOSTON COLLEGE VS. VIRGINIA TECH - ALL-TIME SERIES

Today's game marks the 32nd meeting between the two schools.
Boston College is 18-13 all-time vs. Virginia Tech.
In ACC play, the Eagles are 12-11 versus the Hokies.
BC is 11-48 all-time at Conte Forum against Virginia Tech.
From 2000-04, both teams were members of the Big East.
Boston College was 6-1 against Virginia Tech in Big East play.
The Eagles have lost their last five matchups vs. the Hokies.
In the last meeting, BC lost, 77-66 to #10/10 VT on Jan. 5, 2019.
BC's last win over VT was on March 2, 2015 at Cassell Coliseum.

BOSTON COLLEGE IN ACC PLAY

Boston College is 85-161 in 13 seasons in the ACC.
BC started 2-0 and 3-1 in ACC play for the first time since 2010-11.
Boston College finished with a 5-13 record in ACC play in 2018-19.
The 11th-place finish a year ago was its best finish since 2012-13.
The Eagles were 7-11 in ACC play in 2017-18.
BC's best ACC mark came in its inaugural season, going 11-5 in conference play in 2005-06 en route to a third place finish.
BC also tied for third in 2006-07 (10-6) and finished fourth in 2010-11 (9-7).

FORMER ALL-AMERICAN TROY BELL TO HAVE JERSEY RETIRED AT HALFTIME

At halftime of today's game, Boston College Athletics will retire the jersey of former Eagles' All-American Troy Bell.
A two-time consensus All-American in 2001 and 2003, Bell finished as the program's all-time leading scorer (2,632 points).
During that span, from 1999-2003, Bell was the top scorer in all of college basketball, at 21.6 points per game.
The Big East Rookie of the Year in 1999-2000, he is one of only six players to earn Big East Player of the Year honors twice.
As a sophomore, Bell helped lead BC to a 27-5 overall record and the Big East regular season title.
He also earned the Dave Gavitt Trophy as the Big East Tournament MVP, leading the Eagles to the 2001 championship.
Bell still ranks at the top of the BC record book in career 3-pointers (300), FT made (810), and FT% (86.8%).

TODAY'S BOSTON COLLEGE NOTE(S) YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT

Five Boston College players scored in double-digits at Pittsburgh for the first time since Feb. 20, 2019 at N.C. State.
The Eagles made 10 3FG, connecting on 41.7% from beyond the arc at Pittsburgh.
It was the second time that happened this season - BC made 11 3-pointers at Notre Dame, connecting at a 47.8% clip.

ON THIS DATE: JANUARY 25

Boston College is 8-7 overall and 2-1 in ACC play all-time in games played on January 25.
January 25 marks the dual celebration of National Irish Coffee Day and National Opposite Day.
On this day in history on January 25 - 1819: The University of Virginia is chartered; 1840: Charles Wilkes identifies Antarctica as a new continent; 1881: Edison & Bell form the Oriental Telephone Company; 1915: Bell in NYC calls Thomas Watson in San Francisco; 1924: 1st Winter Olympic Games open in Chamonix, France; 1959: the first transcontinental flight of the Boeing 707 took place; 1960: Wilt Chamberlain sets a new NBA rookie record with 58 points vs. Detroit; 1961: Disney releases "101 Dalmations."
Notable January 25 birthdays: Author Virginia Woolf, musician Alicia Keys, former U.S. Vice President Charles Curtis, singer Etta James.

JAY DOT BUCKETS

Among all ACC freshmen, Jay Heath ranks fifth in scoring (12.1 ppg), third in 3FG made (32), fifth in 3FG% (.372), and is second in steals (27).
Entering the Dec. 10 game vs. Albany, Jay Heath ranked fourth nationally among freshman in 3FG% (21-42; 50.0%)
Over the next four games, Heath cooled off, connecting on 2-of-19 from beyond the arc.
Earlier this season, Heath knocked down 5-of-7 from deep versus Eastern Washington.
The last BC freshman to make five 3-pointers in a game: Ky Bowman (5) vs. Notre Dame on Feb. 14, 2017.
Heath has scored in double figures in 13 of the 18 games in which he has appeared.
The D.C. native scored a season-best 18 points in the season-opening win over Wake Forest.

POPOVIC RETURNS AFTER MISSING NINE GAMES

Nik Popovic returned to the BC lineup at Pittsburgh after missing nine games due to injury (back).
Popovic saw 30 minutes of action off the bench, finishing with 12 points, two rebounds, and a blocked shot.
Prior to the injury, the senior forward ranked second on the squad in scoring (11.8) and rebounding (5.9).

TRENDING: JAIRUS HAMILTON

Over his last 11 games, Jairus Hamilton is averaging 10.2 points, 5.0 boards, and 1.2 assists.
He has scored in double figures five times during the span, including a career-high 18 points in a comeback win vs. Cal.
Hamilton hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:35 to play and was named the Al Attles Classic game MVP for his efforts.
In a 60-53 win over #18/18 Virginia, the 6-8 sophomore tallied 10 points, seven boards, and two steals
Since returning after missing five games from Nov. 10-23 due to injury, he has averaged just over 26 minutes per game.

STEFFON MITCHELL DOES IT ALL
This season...

Steffon Mitchell leads BC in rebounding (8.2), steals (2.4), and blocks (1.2) per game, while ranking second in assists (2.8).
He is the only player nationally to log 8.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.4 steals, and 1.2 blocked shots per game.
Mitchell has led the team in rebounding in 13 games, steals 12 times, blocks on 11 occasions, and assists eight times.
He has posted four double-doubles this season, including in consecutive games vs. Albany and Central Connecticut.
He set a new career-high with six steals on Dec. 15 against Central Connecticut.
In the ACC, he leads the league in steals and ranks fifth in rebounding (second in offensive rebounding - 3.4 OR/g).

For his career...

Mitchell has led BC in at least one statistical category (scoring, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks) in 73 of his 79 career games.
The 6-7 forward is the ACC's active rebounding leader, averaging 8.1 rebounds per game for his 79-game career.
Last year, he ranked fifth overall in the league (7.9 rpg). As a freshman, he ranked seventh in the conference (8.3 rpg).
The Shakopee, Minn. native became the first true freshman in Boston College history to average better than 8.0 rpg.
He has registered 10 or more rebounds in a game on 27 occasions.
A skilled passer from the post, he is averaging 2.3 assists per game as well as a 2.01:1 assist/turnover ratio in his career.
The point forward has dished out four or more assists on 21 occasions - including nine games with five or more assists.

Eagles Set to Honor Troy Bell; Host Hokies on Saturday

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