Unranked Eagles upset No. 1 Duke
BOSTON — Outside the Boston College basketball office, on the way to the practice gym, the walls are decorated with giant pictures from the Eagles’ biggest wins.
The Sweet 16 appearance in 2006. Upsets of No. 1 North Carolina and No. 6 Duke in 2009. A victory over top-ranked Syracuse four years ago.
Make room for an addition: Boston College 89, No. 1 Duke 84.“We’re putting one up for this one,” Boston College coach Jim Christian said. “That’s where I would put it. If you get a poster up on that wall, that’s a big thing because of the proud history of this place.”
It was the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams and the Blue Devils’ first loss in 12 games to start the season. The Eagles won for the third straight time when facing the No. 1 team in The Associated Press Top 25.
Ky Bowman totaled 30 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists to lead Boston College (7-3), while Jordan Chatman scored 22 points, hitting four straight free throws in the final 16 seconds to help secure the victory.
“I think this is probably going to be one of the top ones,” Bowman said.
Gary Trent Jr. scored 25 and Marvin Bagley III had 15 points and 12 rebounds for Duke, which erased a 10-point deficit in the second half and led 79-75 with 3:30 to play.
Boston College scored 12 of the next 14 points, getting a pair of 3-pointers from Robinson. Duke’s Trevon Duvall drove to the basket to make it 83-81 with 31 seconds left, but then he was called for an intentional foul on Chatman as the Eagles tried to dribble out the clock.
Chatman made both foul shots, and then with Boston College retaining possession, he was fouled again and made two more. A 3-pointer by Trent made it 87-84, but then Jerome Robinson was sent to the line and hit his free throws with six seconds left.
“This isn’t about us being horrible. This is about how great they were. They were terrific. Not good, terrific,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “We’ve got to get better. But I knew that. If we won, I would tell you we have to get better.”
The Eagles were 11-for-16 from 3-point range in the first half and finished 15-for-26 for the game.
“They made almost every shot that left their hands,” Bagley said. “It’s going to be like that some games.”
Despite the first snowstorm of the winter in Boston, a full house of 8,606 filled the Conte Forum — the first sellout in Chestnut Hill since a game against ninth-ranked North Carolina on Jan. 21.
The fans poured onto the court after Trent’s mostly meaningless 3-pointer in the final seconds bounced off the rim, celebrating Christian’s biggest win yet. The Eagles finished last in the ACC each of the past two seasons.