BC keeps UMass on skids

AMHERST - Boston College's 85-81 overtime victory over the University of Massachusetts last night was a veritable Santa Claus of a college basketball game, with a sack full of gifts for all.

For the 6-2 Eagles, the game offered a young team an exciting road victory that was sealed by a pair of Tyrese Rice free throws with 3.2 seconds remaining. "It was really a team effort," said coach Al Skinner. "There was no one guy who won this."

For the 1-6 Minutemen, the game offered some definite signs of progress. Even in the face of a sixth straight loss - three coming in the closing seconds - first-year coach Derek Kellogg feels his team is turning the corner.

"There were a ton of good things out there this evening," said Kellogg. "I think they're getting closer to realizing how hard you have to play to win, that you have to do all the little things down the stretch to win basketball games."

And for the 6,792 fans at Mullins Center, the game offered entertaining basketball from start to finish. The game was close throughout with 10 ties and 16 lead changes. UMass led three times in overtime before BC took the lead for good (81-80) on a Josh Southern basket with 56 seconds left.

The Eagles were impressively balanced, with Rice leading the way with 21 points, 7 assists, and only 2 turnovers. A trio of BC players chipped in 16 points apiece: Corey Raji, Joe Trapani (12 rebounds), and Rakim Sanders. All of Sanders's points came after intermission.

UMass had a pair of stars, Ricky Harris and Tony Gaffney. Harris had a blazing hand with a career-high 35 points on 12-of-19 shooting, including 6-of-11 from 3-point range. Gaffney just missed a triple-double with 15 points, 18 rebounds, and 9 blocked shots.

"[Gaffney's] energy on the floor was tremendous," said Skinner, who recorded the first official triple-double in UMass history.

Kellogg called Gaffney's performance "one of the great games in UMass history."

"The kid was everywhere," he said.

With UMass trailing, 74-72, Gaffney gave the Minutemen life with a tip-in with 3.3 seconds left in regulation after Chris Lowe front-ended a one-and-one free throw attempt.

But in a season in which UMass has already had more than its share of frustration, Gaffney had a painful finish. With 33.5 seconds left in overtime and UMass trailing, 81-80, Gaffney missed a pair of free throws.

After Trapani hit a pair of foul shots to make it 83-80, UMass had another chance when Harris momentarily got clear, but his 3-point bid went in and out.

Sanders then missed two foul shots with 8.3 seconds left, but BC fouled Harris before he could get a shot off. He made just one of two free throws with 3.9 seconds to play, and then Rice finished things off with two from the line.

"These losses are hard to swallow, but we're clearly growing," said Gaffney. "We know what we're capable of doing."

UMass also got a solid effort from Anthony Gurley, who scored 17 points.

The Minutemen return to action Wednesday against Holy Cross in Amherst. That same night, BC hosts Bryant.