Boston College vs Michigan Basketball Recap

Boston College 62, Michigan 58

No Rakim Sanders, no problem for the Boston College Eagles.

Even without their star wing player, Al Skinner's athletes outclassed, outworked and out-maneuvered Michigan on Wednesday night to notch a key inter-conference win at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Mich.

The Wolverines - with guard Manny Harris and forward DeShawn Sims - had their own stellar studs in the lineup for this contest, so the satisfaction in the Boston College camp must be particularly pronounced after this four-point triumph on the road. The Eagles were the better team for most of the night, even though they were shorthanded. When one considers that the loss of Sanders - due to an injury - was accompanied by the absence of meal-ticket scorer Tyrese Rice - who graduated last year - it's surprising that the visitors from the ACC were able to burnish their NCAA Tournament credentials.

The source of BC's breakthrough was Corey Raji. The 6-6 junior from Washington Township, N.J., started strong and set a positive tone for his teammates. Raji scored half of his team's first-half points, throwing down 17 (on 8-of-12 shooting) while the Eagles built a 34-24 halftime advantage. Michigan's defense, thanks to adjustments from Coach John Beilein, limited Raji to seven second-half points, but by that time, the Eagles had established a comfort zone and a considerable working margin that remained in double-digits until the final three minutes of regulation time. While Michigan's star post player, forward DeShawn Sims, shot the ball only three times in the first half, Ragi went wild and served notice that BC would be able to dominate near the rim.

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This theme - superiority near the basket - would resurface when the Wolverines made one last desperate charge at the Eagles.

With Boston College trying to protect a 57-51 lead at the 1:05 mark of regulation, Eagle forward Joe Trapani swatted Harris, collected the loose ball, and drew a foul, essentially ending Michigan's last best foray at a comeback. The play was representative of BC's brawn and dexterity in the paint, and on a night when Michigan - in a depressing imitation of disappointing games from last season - shot more than half of its 65 field goal attempts from 3-point range (UM tried 34 3-pointers, an absurd total), it only made sense that the defining play would be made by a BC post player against a Wolverine guard. Michigan can't afford to fall in love with the three the way it did during last year's roughest patches, but Beilein's boys recalled an old ailment, and Boston College made the Maize and Blue pay for their long-distance obsession... without Rakim Sanders.

By: Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer