Eagles get a passing grade

In a week during which the Eagles (7-1) faced an exam schedule, this proved to be BC's toughest test: Hardwood Survival 101.

"Yeah, I guess you guys could grade us," said Agbai, who also had six rebounds and three blocked shots, including a decisive swat of Omar Wellington's trey attempt with 5.3 seconds left.

Asked what grade he would give his team, BC's senior captain offered a terse, "No comment."

Agbai was no doubt unhappy with the way the Eagles, who lost their first game of the season Tuesday to No. 12 St. Joseph's, squandered a 54-37 second-half lead and committed 20 turnovers that led to 20 Sacred Heart points.

"I knew we'd bounce back," said Agbai, who has 1,005 career points. "But I was just hoping that we'd play a little harder today."

BC seemed to hit the snooze button after it expanded a 37-32 lead to 17 points over a span of 5 minutes 23 seconds early in the second half. BC freshmen Jared Dudley (17 points, 8-for-9 shooting, 8 rebounds) and Sean Marshall (15 points, 6-for-10 shooting) combined to score 13 of BC's 17 points in that stretch.

"It really is a tough time of year for us, when guys are in exams and don't have a chance to practice," said BC coach Al Skinner, whose team will take some time off for exams before hosting Kent State Saturday afternoon. "No matter who you play against, it's going to be tough. At times, we played well and at times we tried to coast, but Sacred Heart never allowed us to do that."

The Pioneers (3-4), who are 0-7 against Big East opponents since joining Division 1 five years ago, got a game-high 27 points from senior guard Maurice Bailey. Bailey also reached the 1,000-point milestone, becoming the 25th player in Sacred Heart history to do so, with 1,002 points. Bailey and backcourt mate Wellington combined to make seven 3-pointers. The Pioneers took 17 3-point shots in all (14 by the guards).

Bailey and Wellington helped spark a 20-3 run over a 5:33 stretch to help the Pioneers take a 61-60 lead on Wellington's transition hoop with 5:07 left in the game.

Sacred Heart's lead was short-lived. BC sophomore power forward Craig Smith, after going 1 for 6 for 2 points in the first half on the heels of a season-low 2-point effort (1 for 7) at Saint Joesph's, scored 6 straight points on a pair of jump hooks and two free throws to give the Eagles a 66-63 lead with 3:40 to go.

After Louis Hinnant scored on a lane runner to give BC a 5-point lead, Kibwe Trim (10 points) cut it to 69-68 when he followed a Wellington trey with a reverse layup underneath with 2:37 to go. BC hit three of its next four foul shots to build a 72-68 lead before Trim scored on a layup to cut it to 2.

BC dodged three bullets in the final half-minute. Trim went to the line with a chance to tie it, but missed the front end of a one-and-one, with Smith collecting the rebound. On BC's ensuing possession, Jermaine Watson turned it over, giving the Pioneers a last attempt at a winning shot by Wellington, which Agbai blocked. After that, Mike Queenan got the inbounds pass and was double-teamed by Dudley and Agbai, who forced a wayward shot.

"Even though we made mistakes, we're extremely happy about the win," Skinner said. "At the end of the day, a win's a win. But if we don't improve, we're going to continue to struggle."