Boston College Falls 69-64 to Maine

Boston Faculty fell to Maine tonight in disappointing trend, shedding 69-64.

The sport featured a gradual begin, as a number of BC turnovers and missed photographs on the rim led to an early 9-5 deficit after 5 minutes. Zackery began off scorching, with a 3 and good layup on the rim. DeMarr Langford Jr. checked in with 15:22 on the clock within the first half, a welcome return for an Eagles group that wants his scoring and defensive potential. He immediately supplied, with a silky midrange jumper on the primary offensive possession after subbing in.

However, the Eagles continued to wrestle with sloppy offensive play and subpar defensive, which means they trailed by three after 9 minutes performed. Inserted into the beginning lineup, Penha Jr. continued his sturdy begin to the season, getting a clean spinning layup to fall to chop BC’s deficit to 1. After a Zackery free throw tied the sport, Maine’s Peter Filipovity hit an and-1 triple to place Maine again on high. Maine’s zone protection gave the Eagles a whole lot of issues, as their poor 3-point taking pictures resulted with a whole lot of empty offensive possessions. Maine used this to their benefit, occurring an 11-0 run that ended with a pair of Ashton-Langford free throws with 4 minutes to play within the half.

The Eagles lastly bought a shot to drop with Mason Madsen hitting a 3 earlier than Jaedan Zackery launched a halfcourt triple that simply beat the buzzer, which means the Eagles have been (someway) solely down 34-30 on the half – regardless of taking pictures a pitiful 33.3% from the ground and solely 4/12 from past the arc. BC simply couldn’t appear to determine Maine’s zone protection, which gave BC a whole lot of open jumpers that they only couldn’t get to fall.

The beginning of the second half featured a lot of the identical struggles for the Eagles as the primary half. They missed some open 3s and layups on the rim, gave up just a few buckets and rapidly have been watching a nine-point deficit. With quarter-hour left, the groups started buying and selling buckets, and a big-time DeMarr Langford Jr. chasedown block gave the Eagles some life. Makai Ashton-Langford scored back-to-back buckets to attract BC inside 5, forcing Maine to name timeout.

Sadly for BC, they only couldn’t appear to maintain the momentum on their facet. Maine scored a pair fast buckets to revive their nine-point lead and after a Madsen triple, Filipovity hit one other and-1 to additional dampen the Eagles’ momentum. With eight minutes to play, the Eagles trailed 58-48. Nevertheless, Makai Ashton-Langford went on a 4-0 run by himself, Chas Kelley bought an enormous swat on the rim and rapidly the Eagles lastly had some momentum. With 6:36 to play, Maine referred to as a timeout nonetheless main 58-54. After buying and selling buckets for 2 minutes, Maine seemed like they have been about to drag away after forcing a turnover whereas up 65-60. A Chas Kelley steal and end, nonetheless, reduce the lead again to 5 and Ashton-Langford added two free throws to make it a 3-point sport. BC had a number of alternatives to tie or take the lead down the stretch – Ashton-Langford missed the primary free throw of a one-and-one, Zackery turned the ball over on a breakaway, and an entire incapability to get a defensive rebound – however it was not meant to be. BC fell 69-64 in a poor effort. Of extra concern, too, is the truth that DeMarr Langford needed to be helped off the court docket within the remaining minutes with an obvious harm.

Total, three fundamental points stand out to me within the early going of the season: BC has no constant outdoors taking pictures, as they went 5-18 from past the arc – good for less than 27.8%. Whether or not in opposition to Maine’s zone protection or man-to-man, the appears from 3 simply wouldn’t fall. Furthermore, they missed eight (8!) free throws, going 11-19. It’s referred to as the charity stripe for a purpose, and never making the most of that permits opponents to remain in video games and considerably hurts BC’s already questionable offense. Lastly, the (lack of) rebounding is a matter. BC struggled on the boards in opposition to Cornell, and the lack to safe a defensive rebound tonight value them the prospect to tie the sport. With out Bickerstaff, there simply doesn’t appear to be that massive glass cleaner who can safe the ball. Now, this can enhance when 7’1 Quinten Submit returns, however it’s little doubt a problem.

The Eagles will look to rebound once they tackle George Mason within the Paradise Jam Event on 11/18.