Coral Gables, FL (Sports Network) - The No. 8 Miami Hurricanes look to stay
perfect both at home and in Atlantic Coast Conference play as they welcome the
Boston College Eagles to the BankUnited Center on Tuesday.
Boston College comes in with a 24-16 all-time lead over the Hurricanes in a
series that dates back to the 1962-63 campaign. However, Miami has won the
last five matchups overall, including a 60-59 decision on Jan. 16 in Chestnut
Hill earlier this season. Boston College's Olivier Hanlan was fouled in the
closing seconds of the first matchup with the Eagles trailing by three.
However, Miami escaped with the win after Hanlan's final free throw try rimmed
out.
The Eagles ended a five-game losing streak on Saturday with a 75-68 victory
over the Clemson Tigers. The victory put Boston College just one game below
the .500 mark overall and into a three-way tie with Georgia Tech and Virginia
Tech for last place in the ACC standings.
Freshman guard Joe Rahon submitted his best game as a collegiate athlete in
the Eagles' win over Clemson, draining 6-of-7 from beyond the arc on his way
to a career-high 26 points. Boston College never trailed in the contest, as it
limited Clemson to a dismal 6-of-26 showing from the floor (.231) in the first
half to take an 11-point edge into the break. Lonnie Jackson added 14 points
and Ryan Anderson finished with 12 to help the Eagles down the Tigers.
Anderson is pacing the team with 16.2 points and 8.7 boards per tilt, while
Hanlan (13.7 ppg), Rahon (10.8 ppg), and Jackson (10.2 ppg) all own double-
digit scoring averages as well. Coach Steve Donahue recently slipped sophomore
forward Eddie Odio into the starting five. The Miami native has blocked six
shots and gone 6-of-13 from the field over his last two outings.
Miami is coming off its thrilling, 79-78 road victory over NC State. The
victory kept Jim Larranaga's squad as the only unbeaten left in ACC play at
8-0 and helped it climb to No. 8 in the polls. The Hurricanes' hot start has
helped them become the first ACC school not named Duke or North Carolina to
start 8-0 in conference play since Virginia in 1981, when Coach Jim Larranaga
was an assistant with the Cavaliers. The team has won nine consecutive games
overall coming into this contest and moved to a 17-3 overall mark with its
hard-fought win over the Wolfpack.
The Hurricanes lead the ACC in scoring margin in league games at +11.4 ppg.
Durand Scott transforms the Hurricanes into a much more explosive squad on the
offensive end with his 14.0 points per game. The 6-foot-3 Scott showed his
value as he poured in a 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting in the win over NC
State. Miami has a very valuable piece up front in Kenny Kadji, who has used
strong interior play to post 13.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per
game, while Shane Larkin chips in 13.0 points and 4.1 assists per game from
the point guard slot. Reggie Johnson is near a double-double average (10.4
ppg, 9.1 rpg) while Trey McKinney Jones nets just under 10 ppg.
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