10:02 AM EST on Thursday, January 27, 2005

BY KEVIN McNAMARA
Journal Sports Writer

PROVIDENCE -- For three weeks, Donnie McGrath has waited for a game like last night's.

Journal photo / Ruben W. Perez

PC's Donnie McGrath tries to escape the clutches of BC's Louis Hinnant during the final seconds of last night's game.

After missing 16 of his 21 shots in three Big East losses, PC's junior point guard knew he couldn't play much worse. He certainly wasn't helping his team's quest for its first conference win.

Last night was different, though. McGrath said he recently watched tapes of his better games as a Friar, and noticed a confident, poised shooter, not someone afraid to pull the trigger. That was the player who showed up against Boston College. McGrath led the Friars in last night's 78-75 loss with 17 points, tying his season high. He had scored just 13 points in his last four games.

McGrath connected on 5 of 8 tries from behind the 3-point line last night. He came into the game 3 for 15 from 3-point range in his first three Big East games.

"The coaches just told me to play how it feels and just play your game," McGrath said. "Some of my shots were deeper than normal, but I just let it fly."

One common theory on the Friars' woes was tied to McGrath's missing offense. But last night the Friars had McGrath firing on all cylinders while senior captains Ryan Gomes (5 for 14, 13 points) and Tuukka Kotti (2 for 10, 9 points) struggled against the Boston College defense.

"It was an intense game. Everybody wanted to win so badly," McGrath said. "It hurts, but our confidence is still strong. We're right there with the best teams in the conference."

McGrath missed a 30-foot trey at the buzzer that could have tied the game, the ball hitting the front rim. "That one felt good, too," he said.

Eagles catch a break

The Big East's unbalanced schedule is working in Boston College's favor in the Eagles' final trip through the conference.

BC's scheduling partners this year are PC, Villanova, West Virginia, Rutgers and Seton Hall. The Eagles play each of those teams twice while squaring off against some of the stronger teams in the league only once. BC has already won at UConn, and hosts Georgetown (Jan. 29), Syracuse (Feb. 19) and Pittsburgh (Feb. 28). BC also travels to Notre Dame on Feb. 8.

New wrinkles

Tim Welsh promised to shake things up a bit, and did so with a pressing defense that appeared at times with varying success throughout the game.

Welsh thought the press could shake BC's ball-handlers, and did force 15 turnovers, but the Eagles also beat the press many times and scored 42 points in the paint. BC shot 65 percent in the second half, with 18 of its 40 points coming in the paint.

Welsh wanted to extend his bench, and did use nine players for six or more minutes. PC is now 0-5 in the Big East. It's worst Big East start is 0-6, in 1991-92. The Friars are back in action Saturday at home against West Virginia.

Double dribbles

PC's last home win over a top-10 ranked team came in December 1998, against Purdue. Its last top-10 win came at No. 4 Connecticut last season . . . The game was a virtual sellout, but the day's snow caused some ticket-holders to stay home. The crowd still was a healthy 12,448. PC is averaging nearly 9,000 fans for its home games . . . The NCAA releases a midseason statistical brief, and Big East teams are first among all conferences in the country in points allowed (62.55) and field-goal percentage defense (40.2 percent) . . . BC reserve guard Stevie Hailey missed the game because of a sprained ankle . . . At halftime, PC honored the Lincoln Little League, which won the New England championship.