It took a near impossible last second fade away jumper from the corner by Rakim Sanders to lift the Boston College Eagles over Georgia Tech 67-66 and possibly into the NCAA Tournament.
It was Rakim’s second game winner in conference play this season, the first being against Virginia Tech.
The sophomore noted that the confidence level has been the biggest key behind his late game heroics. "I felt comfortable taking the last shot" and "my teammates had confidence in me."
Boston College’s only senior, Tyrese Rice, was "just happy to get the win" on senior night after seeing his team fall to Georgia Tech in last year’s final home game.
Boston College hurdled out to an early 14-7 lead. They played with intensity and aggression on the defensive end and hit six of their first eight shot attempts. However, the game soon became sloppy. A rash of turnovers and poor shot attempts allowed Georgia Tech to tie the game at 14 midway through the first half of play.
A three-pointer from Reggie Jackson broke the near four-minute scoring drought and gave BC a three point edge. However, the Eagles would go on yet another long stretch without scoring. Luckily for BC, the Yellow Jackets would be unable to capitalize on numerous mistakes by the home team.
BC was finally able to find the basket when Rakim Sanders found Josh Southern who finished with a nifty up and under move to put them up 21-18. Georgia Tech took a one point lead at 25-24 with two minutes remaining in the half. Moments later Sanders would bury a three to give BC a two-point lead. Just before the break, Tyrese Rice picked up a loose ball and fired a bullet pass to Reggie Jackson. Jackson would hit the layup and draw a foul with three seconds left on the clock. His free throw would give Boston College a 30-25 halftime lead despite the team shooting just 30% from the field.
Georgia Tech adjusted in the second half to pound the ball inside to Gani Lawal and Alade Aminu. This strategy paid off early for Georgia Tech as back-to-back dunks put them ahead 39-34. The Boston College offense floundered early in the second half as the crowd grew antsy in anticipation of a big play. Shortly thereafter, Josh Southern completed a conventional three-point play bringing BC back within two points.
Sanders would fire up the crowd with a powerful one-handed fast break slam making the score 42-41 in favor of GT. After Jackson made a great play saving the ball from going out of bounce Rice drained a three to put the Eagles up 48-44.
Boston College continually failed to come up with defensive stops as the Yellow Jackets tied the game at 57 with less than five minutes to play. But a pair of free throws from Sanders and a two-handed tip slim from Reggie put BC back on top 61-57.
Georgia Tech answered taking a 62-61 lead, but Rice would sink a pair of free throws putting BC up by one. GT’s Lawal nailed a turnaround jumper off the glass but Rice was fouled on the Eagles next possession, calmly hitting both to make the 65-64 in favor of BC with just 26 seconds left.
On Georgia Tech’s next possession Rakim Sanders was called for a reach in foul well behind the three-point line. This mistake would prove to be costly as the Eagles were in the double bonus and the Yellow Jackets hit both from the charity stripe to once again regain the lead with just 12 seconds on the clock.
With seven ticks on the clock Coach Al Skinner called a timeout and designed a play for Rakim Sanders to get the ball. The Eagles lined up and set screens while Rakim waited for what seemed to be an eternity to pop to the top of the key to receive the inbounds pass.
Sanders dribbled to his left but he was forced to the baseline as he drew the double team. The play looked hopeless as Rakim was trapped in the corner nearly behind the backboard, but he created enough separation to fire off a jumper while falling away from the rim finding nothing but the bottom of the net. His jumper with 1.7 seconds left on the clock put Boston College over the top and sent them on to their 9th league win.
Coach Skinner would say following the game, "we wanted Rakim with the basketball", adding that he "thought he would be able to get to the basket or elevate over any bigger players."
Rakim led the way for BC with 19 points. Besides nailing the game winner, Sanders hauled in six rebounds and notched five steals in the effort. Rice scored 17 in his final home game. He was a perfect 12-12 from the free throw line which was key for the Eagles as they were in the bonus down the stretch.
Josh Southern contributed 12 points and nine rebounds in one of his best ACC games this season. Reggie Jackson chipped in 11 points and six rebounds, including five offensive boards off the bench.
Joe Trapani, usually very consistent, scored just two points on 1-8 shooting. Trapani struggled all game and sat for an extended period during key second half play. For Head Coach Al Skinner, "9-7 makes me feel very comfortable" regarding the team’s tournament hopes. Skinner believes the team is continually improving while he stressed the fact that they are playing for the present as "preparing for the future", with the nucleus of this team all returning next year as well.
Boston College improves to 21-10 on the year and 9-7 in conference play. BC is likely looking at a 5th or 6th seed in the conference tournament which begins Thursday March 12th in Atlanta.
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