Eighth-ranked BC is undefeated and atop the Big East for one simple reason: the Eagles seem to do all the right things when the game is on the line.

10:04 AM EST on Thursday, January 27, 2005

BY JIM DONALDSON
Journal Sports Writer

PROVIDENCE -- Some teams, losing teams, shoot themselves in the foot in the closing minutes of close games.

Journal photo / Ruben W. Perez

PC's Tuukka Kotti muscles up with BC's Craig Smith during the first half of last night's game at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.

The Boston College Eagles shoot the ball in the basket, which is why they're 17-0 after wiping out an 11-point deficit early in the second half and pinning a 78-75 setback on Providence College's frustrated Friars, who fell to 0-5 in Big East games.

It was the second time this season that the Friars failed to hold a double-digit lead against the more experienced Eagles.

"The most important thing about us," BC coach Al Skinner said of his nationally 8th-ranked Eagles, "is our execution."

The most important example of that came with just over a minute remaining, when BC, trailing 75-73, moved the ball patiently against PC's zone defense until, with the shot clock running down, Jared Dudley found himself with an open 3-point shot that hit nothing but net.

"It was instinctive," Dudley said. "I didn't think about it. The shot clock was going down, and I saw the defender drop off me. When I'm in the right position, I'm hitting open shots."

The Eagles have been hitting on all cylinders all season and love their position atop the Big East, and among the nation's top 10. With Duke losing last night, the Eagles and No. 1 Illinois are the only unbeaten teams left in the country.

"It's been a magical season," Dudley said. "We're one of the surprise teams in the country, if not the surprise team."

The Eagles have surprised even themselves.

"If anybody had told me we'd be 17-0," Dudley said, "I wouldn't have believed them."

Among the reasons the Eagles are undefeated is that they believe in themselves. They don't panic when they fall behind, and ooze confidence coming down the stretch with the game on the line.

"We don't shoot ourselves out of games," Dudley said. "So we're in every game."

It's tough to take the Eagles out of a game because they have so many players they can turn to.

Dudley and powerful forward Craig Smith tied for scoring honors last night with 21 apiece. Smith was 9-for-15 from the floor, Dudley was 6-for-12, and had a game-high 12 rebounds.

Quick guard Jermaine Watson added 17 off the bench and Sean Marshall had 10. Freshman center Sean Williams, who has a wingspan like a condor's, blocked six shots -- five of them in the second half, when he replaced veteran Nate Doornekamp.

"What it comes down to at the end of the game," Friars coach Tim Welsh said, "is execution. BC did a better job of getting better shots. They moved the ball and got the open look for Dudley. We shot a fadeaway, and a leaner in the lane.

"BC also did a nice job on Ryan (Gomes, PC's all-American forward) in the lane at the end. It was almost a box-and-one they played . They did a very good job defensively."

Obviously, given their perfect record, the Eagles do a very good job at both ends of the court.

They held Gomes to just 13 points on 5-of-14 shooting, only 1-of-6 from 3-point range.

"We listen to what the coach tells us," Dudley said. "After we went ahead, we knew (PC) wanted to get the ball inside to Gomes, that McGrath would be the guy to shoot from outside, and that Brewington likes to try to penetrate."

The Eagles expected a close game. They also expected to win.

"This is the Big East," Dudley said. "It seems like every game is close coming down to the wire."

And BC always seems to come out ahead.

"We try not to play our way out of a game," Skinner said. "As a team, we have a good understanding of each other. We have confidence in each other."

Nowhere is that confidence more evident than in the final minutes.

"Our guys," said Skinner, "get to areas they're comfortable with. One guy took a look, said: 'Not a good shot,' and passed the ball. Another guy took a look, said: 'Not a good shot,' and passed the ball. When we got it to Jared, he had a good shot, and made it."