BOSTON − Stonehill provided Boston College with a rocky off ramp from a bad stretch of games.
The Eagles snapped their three-game losing streak with a 73-69 victory over the Skyhawks in a non-league matchup on Sunday at Conte Forum.
“I am glad we got the job done and I’m happy for our guys, we played 11 players today,” said BC coach Earl Grant. “I glad were able to figure it out and win the game.”
The win putting the finishing touch the Eagles men’s and women’s double header. The BC women demolished Bryant 94-46 in the opener of the matinee twin bill.
BC improved to 7-4 overall, 4-2 at home and 17-0 in its series with Stonehill. The Eagles will take on newcomer SMU in their ACC home opener on Dec. 21 and close out 2024 against Fairleigh-Dickinson at Conte on the 28th. The Eagles will resume ACC play when they host the Miami Hurricanes at noon on New Years Day.
“We have a week to study them,” said Grant referring to SMU. “I will really try to learn from this game tonight first and figure out what we need to be better at and then I will get into our next opponent.”
BC shot 50% from the floor with five made 3-point shots, 34 rebounds and eight assists. Stonehill countered by shooting 45.3% from the floor with 10 made 3-point shots, 26 rebounds and 12 assists. Stonehill forward Todd Brogna led all scorers with 25 points while Chad Venning paced the Eagles with 13.
“I knew coming in, based on studying it that they are a very old team, a lot of seniors, a lot of juniors and graduate transfers,” said Grant. “They executed and did some good stuff tonight.”
Grant opened with his heavyweight two bigs grouping, starting Elijah Strong (6-8, 235) and Venning (6-9, 270) against undersized Skyhawks. Stonehill countered with perimeter shooting and took an 8-4 into the first media timeout. Brogna and Ethan Mauser were good from downtown during the opening surge.
BC took its first lead, 13-10, when junior guard Chas Kelley buried a pull up 3-ball from the top of the key with 12:32 on the clock. Kelley’s third trifecta followed by Fred Payne baseline drive put BC up 30-26 into the final media timeout of the frame. Payne buried a trey with 30 seconds remaining to put BC up 35-30 at the half.
“I was just trying to stay focused, get good touches and led the defense sink in,” said Kelley. “Coach said just let it rip when you feel a good rhythm.”
BC opened the second half with a 6-0 run to go ahead 41-30, prompting Skyhawks’ coach Chris Kraus to call time out at 18:28. BC guard Dion Brown netted a follow and a 3-ball to put BC up 46-37 into the first media timeout.
Hand drove the lane and Kelley dropped a floater as BC built a 59-50 lead into the third media timeout. Stonehill scored seven unanswered points to cut the Eagles lead to 63-59 at the final media time out. Brogna cut the lead to 69-67 with a reverse layup along the baseline with 21 seconds to play. Strong iced the game with two from the line with 5.8 seconds to play.
“We just didn’t execute to the best of our abilities,” said Hand. “We missed on some rotations and they hit it and that is what put us in that position at the end.
“We are going to learn from it and be better next game.”
