Boston College came into Saturday’s matchup against Miami looking to bounce back from a tough road loss at Duke and reestablish their home-court rhythm at Conte Forum. But despite a gritty effort and flashes of momentum, the Eagles couldn’t quite close the deal, falling 74-68 to a Hurricanes team that made just enough plays down the stretch.
This one had all the makings of a tight ACC battle from the opening tip. Miami came out aggressive, setting the tone early with a quick burst of scoring.
But Boston College didn’t blink. The Eagles answered with a run of their own, taking their first lead by moving the ball with purpose and staying disciplined on both ends.
It was a back-and-forth first half, with BC sticking to its strengths-limiting turnovers, staying organized defensively, and making Miami work for every look.
The Hurricanes leaned heavily on their interior game early, using physicality in the paint to keep the pressure on. Boston College countered by spacing the floor and getting quality looks through ball movement. Each media timeout seemed to arrive with the game still hanging in the balance, a sign of how evenly matched these squads were through the first 20 minutes.
As the first half wore on, Miami started to create some separation. But that’s when Fred Payne stepped up.
The freshman guard provided a crucial spark, knocking down shots and shifting momentum back in BC’s favor. Donald Hand Jr. also came through in the clutch, hitting a couple of key buckets to help the Eagles claw back.
By halftime, Miami held just a one-point lead-a fitting scoreline for a game that never tilted too far in either direction.
Coming out of the break, Boston College tried to string together a run, and Hand Jr. kept the offense afloat with a timely three. But Miami responded with a seven-point surge that suddenly stretched the lead into double digits. The Eagles hit a scoring lull at the worst possible time, and the Hurricanes took full advantage.
Enter Caleb Steger. The reserve guard came off the bench and immediately made an impact, knocking down shots from the perimeter to help BC regain its footing.
That energy lifted the Eagles, and the comeback was on. Hand Jr. drilled another three, Payne finished in transition, and just like that, the deficit was trimmed to a single possession with a little over six minutes to go.
But every time Boston College made a push, Miami had an answer. The Hurricanes leaned on physical drives and timely finishes to keep the Eagles at arm’s length. Even when Payne buried a late three to keep hope alive, Miami stayed composed and sealed the game with a strong finish at the rim in the final minute.
Malik Reneau was a problem all afternoon for Boston College, leading all scorers with 23 points. He was the steadying force Miami needed, especially late. On the other side, Donald Hand Jr. paced the Eagles with 20 points, while Payne’s energy and scoring punch gave BC a shot in the closing minutes.
Boston College didn’t lack effort or execution-they just ran into a team that executed a little better when it mattered most. The Eagles will look to regroup quickly as they continue their three-game homestand with a Wednesday night matchup against Stanford.
Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. ET, and it’s another opportunity for BC to turn close calls into wins.