Boden Kapke’s Late-Game Heroics Lift Boston College Over Pitt in Conte Forum Thriller
Boston College is starting to find its footing in ACC play, and Wednesday night’s 65-62 win over Pitt at Conte Forum was a gritty, confidence-building step forward. The Eagles, led by a career night from freshman big man Boden Kapke, closed out a tense, physical battle to notch their second straight conference win. Kapke poured in a personal-best 19 points, including the game-winning three with under 30 seconds to play, while Fred Payne added 18 of his own in a performance that showed poise under pressure.
First Half: Defensive Grit and Kapke’s Early Impact
BC came out aggressive, and it was Kapke who set the tone right away, backing down his defender and converting the game’s opening bucket. The Eagles leaned on their size and physicality early, jumping out to an 11-7 lead behind seven quick points from the freshman center. That early edge grew to 20-12 after Caleb Steger knocked down a clean look from beyond the arc on the left wing.
The first half wasn’t without fireworks. With just over eight minutes left, Pitt’s Damarco Minor delivered a hard shove to Chase Forte that earned him a flagrant two and an ejection.
That moment seemed to energize BC’s defense even more. Up to that point, the Eagles had already held Pitt to a dismal 18.8% shooting clip, and they didn’t ease up.
The Panthers clawed back to within two, but BC responded with a tip-in from Steger and a smooth pull-up jumper from Luka Toews to take a 28-22 lead into the locker room.
Kapke led all scorers at the break with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting, showing soft touch around the rim and a growing confidence in his offensive game. As a team, BC shot 39% from the field and held Pitt to just 23.3%-a testament to their defensive intensity and ability to contest nearly every look.
Second Half: Trading Blows and a Clutch Finish
Pitt came out of the halftime break with renewed energy, flipping the script with a 10-2 run that gave them a 32-30 lead. Cameron Corhen’s transition three was a momentum-shifter, and the Panthers kept pushing, eventually building a 45-39 advantage midway through the half.
But BC didn’t blink.
Aidan Shaw’s thunderous put-back dunk tied things at 36, and Chase Forte’s and-one layup at the 10:35 mark pulled the Eagles even again at 47. The game turned into a back-and-forth slugfest from there.
Payne delivered one of the night’s biggest plays when he drilled a three and absorbed contact for a four-point play that cut the deficit to just two. It was a veteran move from a player who’s becoming a steadying force in BC’s backcourt.
With three minutes to play, Corhen’s hook shot gave Pitt a 62-59 lead, and it looked like the Panthers might escape with a road win. But again, BC responded. Forte buried a clutch three with 1:58 remaining to tie the game at 62, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
After a defensive stop and a timeout with 36 seconds left, head coach Earl Grant drew up a play that worked to perfection. Payne drove into the lane, drew two defenders, and kicked it out to Kapke on the right wing.
The freshman didn’t hesitate-he rose, fired, and buried the three with 22 seconds left. Conte Forum erupted, and BC’s defense held strong on the final possession to seal the win.
Kapke’s Coming-Out Party
Kapke was the story of the night. He finished with 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting, logged a team-high 36 minutes, and showed the kind of inside-out versatility that’s becoming a real weapon for BC. His ability to stretch the floor, battle inside, and stay composed in big moments is a promising sign for the Eagles moving forward.
“He’s starting to come into his own,” Coach Grant said postgame. “We got a stud. He’s an inside-outside threat, and hopefully we can continue to help him, keep his confidence going in the right direction.”
Payne’s steady hand was just as important. His 18 points came on 7-of-14 shooting, including 3-of-6 from deep, and he was instrumental in keeping BC in rhythm during Pitt’s second-half surge.
What It Means
This win doesn’t just add another tick in the ACC column-it shows growth. BC weathered multiple runs, made critical plays late, and leaned on a pair of young players in Kapke and Payne to deliver in crunch time. That’s the kind of experience that pays dividends down the stretch in conference play.
With momentum building and confidence rising, the Eagles are starting to look like a team that believes it can hang in the ACC. And if Kapke continues to evolve the way he did Wednesday night, they might be more than just a tough out-they could be a team no one wants to see come March.