Boston College didn’t just beat UMass on Friday at TD Garden. The Eagles used the moment to make a statement in a rivalry that has spent years getting talked about more than it was played.
For more than a decade, the debate around the Commonwealth Classic had lingered in Massachusetts basketball circles, with some fans convinced BC had been avoiding the Minutemen. The long gap between games only fed that noise. But with the teams finally back on the same floor in Boston, BC left no room for another argument.
Luke Murray’s team handled the stage, the setting and the opponent, rolling past UMass behind a huge night from Money Williams and a defense that turned the game into a one-way stretch after a sluggish opening.
“We were really excited to be a part of this event,” said Murray after BC’s win. “Obviously, there was a huge game coming after us with UConn and Michigan, but we felt really grateful to have an opportunity to play in this building.
It’s an iconic place, and I think for Boston College supporters, fans and alumni, it’s something that they can get really excited about. I know our players were just sort of overwhelmed with the opportunity to play on this court and be in this environment.”
BC shook off the early back-and-forth and took control with two seven-point bursts in the final six minutes of the first half. The Eagles kept finding answers around the rim, leaned on their bench, and started wearing UMass down on both ends.
Williams was at the center of it all. He scored BC’s final seven points of the half, finishing the period with 21 points, then helped spark a 10-0 run coming out of the locker room. He got support from Brandon Benjamin off the bench and Armoni Zeigler in his reserve role, giving BC the kind of depth that kept the pressure on.
“Money is an 85 percent free throw shooter,” said Murray, “and he was 1-for-4 from the line at the start of the Wagner game before finishing 11-for-15. He’s somebody that because he has the ball in his hands so much and because he’s such a consistent free throw shooter, it’s huge to be able to stretch leads and close games. That’s something that hopefully we can continue moving forward.”
The Eagles finished 24-for-26 at the line, their best showing there in 10 years, and Williams poured in 35 points for BC’s first 30-point game by an individual since February of 2025. Žak Smrekar added 12 points and five rebounds, while Benjamin delivered 10 points on 4-for-4 shooting and grabbed eight boards. Zeigler chipped in five steals and three assists, even with just four points.
UMass never found enough rhythm to keep pace. The Minutemen shot below 40 percent from the floor, made only seven field goals in the second half, and finished that stretch at 25 percent shooting.
They went 1-for-10 from three after halftime and didn’t match their assists with their turnovers. Even with 39 rebounds, they gave up 17 offensive boards and 19 second-chance points to BC, while the Eagles also outscored them 38- in the paint.
UMass was whistled for 21 personal fouls, including four by Jordan Clayton and three each from Abdullah Ahmed, Junjie Wang, Dwayne Wimbley and Noa Zemljic.
“We just played a good game, a tough game,” said Smrekar. “It all started with defense, though.
I think playing defense at first, the energy transferred to offense. I feel like we got some great shots at the rim.
The threes weren’t falling - they’ll fall next time - but it all started with defense.”
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Boston College Brings Early Momentum Home Under Luke Murray
Boston College heads back to Conte Forum on Monday night carrying some early-season confidence after a 71-55 win over UMass in the Hall of Fame Series. The opener gave Luke Murray a clean first look at his team in his first season on the sideline, and it also showed the Eagles can lean on Money Williams when they need a spark. Williams powered the victory with 35 points, nine rebounds and five assists, giving Boston College a strong foundation as it settles into the new season.
Maryland Eastern Shore is next on the schedule, with coverage set for ACC Network Extra, and the matchup offers another chance for Murray to keep building momentum at home. The bigger picture for Boston College is still in the early stages, but the first game suggested there is already some rhythm developing under a coach who arrives with a strong track record from Connecticut. After a convincing start, the question now is how quickly the Eagles can turn that opening statement into something more lasting once the schedule starts to tighten. [Read more 🡒]
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Matthew Overvelde emerged as the most consistent performer of the group, turning in the strongest singles run of the event and giving Boston College a clear bright spot to carry forward. His weekend included wins over opponents from Memphis and Army, and the Army match went deep enough to test his composure in a deciding super tiebreak, the kind of finish that can matter when the matches start counting for real. [Read more 🡒]
Boston College Faces Its Biggest Gut Check Yet At Notre Dame
Boston College heads into South Bend trying to steady itself after a 31-24 loss to Florida State, a defeat that marked its second straight setback. The timing hardly gets easier. Waiting on the other side is a No. 3 Notre Dame team that has already shown this season it can handle a heavyweight, and the Eagles now have to reset quickly for one of the toughest road assignments on their schedule.
The matchup also comes with a familiar historical edge for the Fighting Irish, who lead the all-time series 18-9. For Boston College, the challenge is less about the past than about finding a way to answer the kind of pressure Notre Dame brings, especially coming off a game in which the Eagles were close but came away empty. [Read more 🡒]