Strong finish extends BC's mark to 17-0

09:58 AM EST on Thursday, January 27, 2005

BY KEVIN McNAMARA
Journal Sports Writer

PROVIDENCE -- For the 17th straight time, Boston College's undefeated basketball team finished a game making all the big plays. For the fifth straight Big East game, Providence College's Friars couldn't answer.

Journal photo / Ruben W. Perez

Ryan Gomes of the Friars beats BC's Jermaine Watson, right, to a loose ball in the final minute of last night's game, but time ran out on PC.

The eighth-ranked Eagles took PC's best shot last night at a festive Dunkin' Donuts Center, but outscored the home team, 7-0, over the final 3:19 to take home a 78-75 victory. BC (17-0, 6-0 Big East) remains one of the nation's two unbeaten teams, along with Illinois. BC has won 28 of its last 31 games.

Jared Dudley led the Eagles with 21 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists and hit the game's biggest shot when he nailed a 3-pointer to put BC ahead to stay with 1:20 to play. Craig Smith also scored 21 points and Jermaine Watson added a season-high 17.

The Eagles' winning recipe has grown quite familiar by now. Al Skinner's team doesn't overwhelm foes, but does know exactly what is needed to keep the good times rolling. BC trailed by 11 points with 16:29 left and was down, 75-71, with 3:19 left after a Donnie McGrath 3-pointer sent the home crowd into a tizzy.

But, as usual, the Eagles didn't crack.

"We know every game's going to be real close, down to the wire, in this league," said Dudley.

Skinner said he called a timeout when his team looked like it was in trouble but he didn't sense any panic.

"I just said we needed to refocus," Skinner said. "I said, 'Make them make plays.' If they can make good plays consistently, then they should win. We needed to make sure we didn't make mistakes."

Late-game miscues are becoming all too common for the Friars, who have lost eight straight Big East games stretching back to last season. PC (9-9, 0-5) crumbled down the stretch with a frustrating combination of turnovers, defensive breakdowns and hurried shots.

"They did a good job defensively in the last three minutes in order to close us out, but that's what poised, veteran teams do," said PC coach Tim Welsh. "We have to learn from that and understand that's how you win games."

PC led, 55-44, early in the second half after a deep 3-pointer by McGrath, who enjoyed his best game in three weeks with five 3-pointers and a team-high 17 points. Ryan Gomes, who was 1 for 7 in the first half, bounced back with seven points early in the second half to buoy PC's hopes. Gomes finished with 13 points on 5 for 14 shooting, including 1 of 6 from the 3-point line.

But the Eagles didn't fold. Behind Dudley, Smith and improved defense, BC erased that lead in five minutes and pulled into a 61-61 tie with 11 minutes to play.

The game see-sawed back and forth from there, but PC was up, 74-71, with 3:19 left after McGrath's final 3-pointer of the night. BC's Watson then drove past Gomes for a hoop to cut the lead to one. PC's Dwight Brewington (16 points) then put his head down and drove into BC's zone and picked up a costly charging foul.

The Eagles worked the ball well at their end and Dudley sank a go-ahead 3-pointer over McGrath's outstretched arm for a 76-75 lead. PC looked to Gomes at the other end, but the All-American couldn't be found. BC's Watson shadowed him, and the Friars didn't show enough patience. Brewington fired up a deep 3-point miss that Gomes rebounded, but his follow-up was smothered by two Eagles in heavy traffic.

Watson was fouled and made one of two for a 77-75 lead. PC again looked for Gomes, but settled for a DeSean White fall-away with 11 seconds left that didn't fall. Dudley rebounded and made only the first of two chances, giving BC a 78-75 lead with 8 ticks left.

"They did a good job on Ryan, and somebody else had to make a play," said Welsh.

PC ran a play with McGrath getting a final look, but his 30-footer hit the front rim and missed. The last-minute losses are certainly wearing on the crestfallen Friars.

"The look in our eyes is like, 'Oh, my God. What's happening?" said Welsh. "Every game is (decided) in the last minute. You take away the last three minutes and our record almost could be reversed. But Dr. Naismith made this game 40 minutes. You have to really execute in the last two, three minutes of these games."