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Boston College Eagles men’s basketball team shocks first-ranked Duke

By Jason Haskins

DURHAM, NC - JANUARY 07: Head coach Jim Christian of the Boston College Eagles questions a call by the officials during the game against the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium on January 7, 2017 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC - JANUARY 07: Head coach Jim Christian of the Boston College Eagles questions a call by the officials during the game against the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium on January 7, 2017 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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The Boston College Eagles men’s basketball team opens ACC play with a shocking home win over the first-ranked Duke Blue Devils.

Perhaps seeing the success of the Boston College Eagles football team, the men’s basketball team found it’s own way to leave a mark on 2017.

For the first time since 2009, the Eagles defeated the Duke Blue Devils, winning 89-84 in front of a packed home arena.

Sophomore guard Ky Bowman nearly messed around and got a triple-double for the Eagles. Bowman scored a game-high 30 points to go along with 10 rebounds and 9 assists.

Just as big for the Boston College Eagles (7-3, 1-0) were juniors Jerome Robinson and Jordan Chatman. Robinson hit big shot after big shot while scoring 24 points on 8-11 (72.7%) shooting, knocking down all five of his three-point attempts.

Chatman scored 22 points, including four crucial free throws down the stretch, while playing all 40 minutes.

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Four of the five starters for Boston College played at least 35 minutes, with only two players off the bench seeing action.

The Blue Devils — who had toyed with losing in multiple games already this season — were led by Gary Trent Jr’s career-high 25 points. Freshman sensation Marvin Bagley III had 15 points and 12 rebounds.

A back and forth affair

The Boston College Eagles had come into the game losers of two out of their last three games. On top of that, they’d be without Deontae Hawkins, the team’s top rebounder and third-leading scorer. Hawkins is out the remainder of the season due to a knee injury.

Duke led early but never by more than six. The Eagles had a nearly three-minute scoreless streak in the first part of the half. Lucky for them, they held Duke to only a basket during the same span.

After Duke took a 36-35 lead with 3:49 remaining, the Eagles rattled off a 13-5 to close out the half. Chatman made two 3’s during the run and Boston College was up 48-41 at halftime.

The Eagles would extend their lead to as large as ten before Duke got rolling behind Grayson Allen. A Trent three gave Duke a 70-69 lead with 7:07 left and it looked like all the momentum was on the Blue Devils side.

Huge shots by Bowman and Robinson kept things interesting despite Duke’s lead growing to four. Robinson hit back-to-back threes to give the Eagles a 81-79 lead with 1:20 left. It was a lead they would never relinquish.

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Boston College has finished in last place in the ACC the past two seasons. Taking down Duke victory is a great way to start 2017-18 conference play.  The Boston College Eagles may not finish on the top of the conference but for at least for a few days, they can say they are the “first-place Eagles”.

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