Boston College Eagles vs NC State Wolfpack Basketball Recap

Boston College 75, North Carolina State 66

Boston College (13-4, 3-0 ACC) defeated NC State (11-5, 1-1 ACC) at the Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, on Tuesday night in an early season ACC test.

First-season coach Steve Donahue’s Eagles have played well overall so far this season, despite losing twice at home to Ivy League opponents Harvard and Yale.

Sidney Lowe’s Wolfpack were coming off a conference opening win for their time since he took the helm five years ago, but a victory against this year’s lowly Demon Deacons hadn’t sufficiently subdued questions about how good this season’s squad might be.

In the first half, Boston College shot well to gain an 11 point lead 24-13 with just under eight minutes remaining, but Sydney Lowe switched the Wolfpack to a half court defense that limited the Eagle’s ability to score from the perimeter and went on a 13-to-2 run to pull within two, 28-26, at the half. Reggie Jackson had 12 points for the Eagles. Tracy Smith, despite going scoreless in the first ten minutes, finished the half with eight points to lead the Wolfpack.

In the second half, NC State took its first lead, 35-33, before Boston College went on a 7-0 run to lead 40-35.  Lowe stayed in his switching zone defense though, holding the score close and creating a 55-53 lead with 7:13 remaining.

Then the Wolfpack’s wheels feel off. Lowe shifted to a man-to-man defense – substituting Javier Gonzalez for freshman guard Ryan Harrow – and the Eagles hit three straight three-point shots to take a 62-55 lead. Donahue’s Eagles were able to hold on for the 75-66 victory.

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B Reggie Jackson, averaging 18.9 points per game for the Eagles, led all scorers with 29 points, six assists, and five rebounds in an all round stellar performance. Corey Raji, assigned to primarily inside play against the Wolfpack, finished with 14 points and eight rebounds. Biko Paris had 12 points to contribute outside scoring to complement Jackson, and Joe Trapani, although called for four fouls, had nine points and 12 rebounds for Boston College.

Tracy Smith started the game oh-for-four from the field, but finished with 18 points for the Wolfpack. Freshman C.J. Leslie had 15 points, including two three-pointers. Scott Wood had 12 points. Freshman guard Ryan Harrow contributed 11 points in 21 minutes. Javier Gonzalez, in 19 minutes of play in rotation with Harrow, finished with no points or steals, and only two assists. While running the floor at the point, Gonzalez failed to avoid a shot-clock violation and missed more than one defensive assignment during BC’s key 9-0 run in the second half that ruined the Wolfpack’s chances.

Donahue’s Eagles maintained composure during both of the Wolfpack’s scoring runs, and when the opportunity came, they were able to capitalize. Lowe’s decisions were uneven, the defensive move to a switching zone in the first half had thrown the Eagles into confusion; but replacing young guard Harrow with the veteran, yet unproductive and mistake-prone Gonzalez was questionable – at best.

Boston College, at 3-0 is the ACC’s surprise team out of the gate this season. NC State has proven nothing this season other than that there is work to be done. Lowe’s job probably depends on more success than they have found so far.

By: David Minter
DFN Sports Staff Writer