Boston College Holds Off Le Moyne Behind Big Games from Hand Jr. and Payne
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Boston College wrapped up its non-conference slate on a high note Sunday afternoon, taking down Le Moyne 72-64 at Conte Forum. It wasn’t always pretty, but it was gritty - and it was fueled by standout performances from Donald Hand Jr. and Fred Payne, who combined for 48 of the Eagles’ 72 points.
Let’s break down how BC got it done and what stood out in a back-and-forth battle that tested their resolve.
First Half: Trading Punches Early
Boston College wasted no time getting on the board, with Donald Hand Jr. setting the tone. He opened the scoring with a strong drive to the rim and followed it up with a confident pull-up three. That early spark was quickly matched by Fred Payne, who caught fire and scored eight straight points for the Eagles - giving BC a 15-13 edge with just under 12 minutes to go in the half.
But Le Moyne wasn't backing down. The Dolphins responded immediately, knocking down a fastbreak three and a midrange jumper to grab their first lead of the afternoon at 18-15. From there, the two teams seesawed their way through the rest of the half.
Hand Jr. buried his second three-pointer late in the half to put BC back on top, and the Eagles carried a slim 30-29 lead into the locker room. It was a tight, physical first half that hinted this one would come down to the wire.
Second Half: Momentum Swings and a Late Push
Coming out of the break, Hand Jr. picked up right where he left off, finishing a crafty hook layup to reach double figures. But Le Moyne continued to hang around, tying the game at 34-34 before BC strung together a 7-0 run - matching their largest lead of the game at that point.
Still, the Dolphins weren’t going quietly. They hit a flurry of threes to swing the momentum and took a four-point lead midway through the second half. That stretch looked like it might tilt the game in Le Moyne’s favor.
But BC responded with poise. The Eagles ripped off a 10-1 run, capped by a highlight-reel dunk from Boden Kapke and a pair of clutch threes from Hand Jr. and Payne to reclaim a 60-55 lead.
From there, the Eagles tightened the screws defensively. Hand Jr. and Chase Forte added key buckets, and Payne knocked down a free throw to give BC its largest lead of the game with just over a minute remaining.
Le Moyne made one last push, cutting the deficit to three with a pair of quick layups and some late free throws. But BC came up with two critical defensive rebounds in the closing moments, forcing the Dolphins to foul. The Eagles took care of business at the line and closed out the win, 72-64.
Notables:
- Fred Payne had himself a day, pouring in a career-high 22 points and shooting 5-of-10 from beyond the arc. His shot-making kept BC afloat during key stretches.
- Donald Hand Jr. led all scorers with 26 points and extended his streak of double-digit scoring games to five.
He’s quickly becoming the go-to guy in crunch time.
- Boden Kapke was a force on the glass, pulling down a season-high 11 rebounds and delivering a momentum-shifting slam during BC’s second-half surge.
- Jayden Hastings made his presence felt defensively with three blocks, while Chase Forte chipped in with a game-high three steals - a reminder of the defensive edge he brings to the backcourt.
- With the win, BC improves to 3-1 against NEC opponents this season and now holds a 30-2 all-time record against the conference.
- This victory also marks the Eagles’ first win over Le Moyne in 45 years - a long time coming.
Boston College heads into conference play with momentum and a sense of identity. They’ve shown they can grind out wins when the offense isn’t humming and lean on their playmakers when it matters most. With Hand Jr. and Payne stepping up and the supporting cast making timely contributions, the Eagles are starting to look like a team that knows how to close.
Up next: ACC play - and the real tests begin.