BOSTON — Aaron Brown scored 21 points, Dennis Clifford had 19 with seven rebounds and Boston College posted an 85-74 non-conference victory over Maine on Thursday night.
Patrick Heckmann had 13 points, Dimitri Batten 12 and Olivier Hanlan 10 for the Eagles (5-3), who won their third straight.
Zarko Valjarevic led the Black Bears (1-8) with 22 points and Till Gloger had 17 with six boards.
The Black Bears had used a 9-2 run to slice a 13-point deficit to 59-53 on Troy Reid-Knight’s foul-line jumper before the Eagles seemed to take charge by scoring 12 of the next 16 points over the ensuing 2 minutes. Brown had a baseline and breakaway jam during the spree.
But Maine made one last run, closing it to 73-68 on Gloger’s two free throws before BC put it away with a quick 9-2 spree.
Clifford’s conventional 3-point play had given Boston College a double digit lead, 52-42, with 14 1/2 minutes left. Brown then followed with a 3 from the left wing.
The Eagles led 42-34 at intermission.
It was the Black Bears’ first visit to Boston College since they upset the Eagles, 52-51, on Jan. 2, 2010.
The Eagles own a 16-5 edge in the series on the hardwood against their longtime Hockey East rivals.
TIP-INS
Maine: The Black Bears came in allowing 82.1 points per game and opponents had hit 53.1 percent of their shots from the floor. On Thursday, BC shot 60 percent in the first half and 53.7 for the game.
Boston College: The Eagles played the second of four teams that they’ll face from the American East conference this season. They beat New Hampshire on Nov. 14 and face Binghamton Dec. 14 and UMass-Lowell Dec. 29.
UP NEXT
Maine: At Army on Dec. 21.
Boston College: Hosts Binghamton on Sunday.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
