BC on Short End of Overtime Thriller in Chapel Hill

Saturday, January 25

Chapel Hill, NC

2:15 p.m.

Boston College

9-11,1-8ACC

102

North Carolina

13-8,6-3ACC

OT 1

Boston College

North Carolina

102

Photo by: Eddie Shabomardenly

BC on Short End of Overtime Thriller in Chapel Hill

January 25, 2025 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Game Book Grant Post Game Presser

Donald Hand Jr. and Dion Brown combine for 46 points for the Eagles

By: Athletic Communications

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Donald Hand Jr. scored a game-high 26 points and Dion Brown tied a season-best with 20 as Boston College dropped a 102-96 overtime decision at North Carolina.

Hand was 8-of-17 from the floor, including 5-of-8 from the outside. Brown made 8-of-11 shots, drilling 4-of-5 from long range.

In a game that saw 16 ties and 10 lead changes, the Eagles and Tar Heels battled back and forth on each possession. Carolina led by as many as nine points midway through the first half, but BC fought back and trailed by one point - 46-45 - at the break.

In the second half, paced by strong shooting from the outside, BC built as much as a five-point advantage - 62-57 - with 13:33 left in regulation. Carolina was able to chip away at the BC lead thanks to 17 second half trips to the free throw line, including seven over the final 10 minutes of play. BC attempted 14 free throws in 45 minutes.

Chad Venning added 17 points, while Joshua Beadle had 14 points, five rebounds, and six assists. The Eagles connected on 54.5% of their shots on the day (36-66) and 14-of-24 from behind the 3-point line.

FIRST HALF

It was a nearly even first four-plus minutes of play, as BC trailed 9-8 at the first media break
Carolina connected on 4-of-6 to start the game,
Donald Hand Jr. had six of BC's first 13 points and BC was within four - 17-13 - through the first 8:15 of play
A pair of 3-pointers by Dion Brown and another from Fred Payne cut it to one - 31-30 - with six and a half minutes to play in the opening frame
A putback by Brown and another 3-ball from Payne gave BC its largest lead of the half - 37-33 - with 5:11 to play
After Carolina scored the next eight points, taking a 41-37 lead - BC used a 6-2 push, capped by a Chas Kelley III 3-pointer, tying it at 43-43 with 1:34 left
Carolina would cling to a 46-45 lead at the break
BC shot 55.2% (16-29) while UNC made 58.1% (18-31) through the first 20 minutes

SECOND HALF

Brown's third 3-pointer of the day started the second half scoring for BC
Joshua Beadle added a dunk and another late shot clock trifecta and BC led 53-50 with 16:15 to play
Brown's fourth trey gave BC its largest lead - 62-57 - with 13:33 left in regulation
UNC would respond with a 10-2 run over the next three and a half minutes, taking a 67-64 lead
Hand connected on consecutive shots from beyond the arc, giving BC a 70-67 lead with 9:21 left
After five unanswered points put the Tar Heels ahead, 72-70, with 7:43 left, Jayden Hastings scored six straight for the Eagles
Tied at 85-85 with 1:44 to go, back-to-back buckets by Venning and Beadle put BC up 89-85 with 26 ticks remaining
Carolina used two foul shots and a driving layup down the stretch along with an expeditious five second call, to force overtime.

OVERTIME

The two teams traded baskets to start the extra period, as Venning tied it at 91-91 with 3:28 to go and Hand connected from deep to tie it at 94-94 with 2:47 to play.
After the 30th and 31st trip to the charity stripe for Carolina put it up two, Venning tied it again at 96-96, with 2:10 left.
But that was as close as BC would get, as UNC scored the final six points of the game

NOTABLES

Dion Brown logged his second 20-point performance of the season. He now has 19 in his career.
Joshua Beadle tied his career-high with six assists in a career-best 32 minutes of play.
Donald Hand Jr. registered his second game with at least five 3-pointers
Boston College had one of its best offensive games of the season, tallying a season-best 96 points - including 89 in regulation.
BC's 14 made 3-pointers was also a season-high, besting the 12 that the Eagles connected on at Wake Forest
It also marked the third time in ACC play this season that a BC opponent was awarded at least 12 more free throws in a game.
The Eagles' attempted 20 fewer from the charity stripe at Wake and 12 less than Georgia Tech in Atlanta.
The Tar Heels were +19 on the day, including a 21-4 edge in the second half and OT periods. BC attempted 14 total free throws on the afternoon.

WHAT'S NEXT

Boston College returns to action a week from today - Saturday, Feb. 1 - when it hosts Florida State.
Tipoff at Conte Forum is set for 2 p.m. and the game will air live on ACC Network with Jon Meterparel and Eric Devendorf.
Fans can also tune into the game live on WEEI 850 AM, with Josh Maurer and Kevin Collins.