CHESTNUT HILL, MASS. -- Boston College snapped its 19-game conference losing streak with a blowout win against Syracuse to start off 2017. In the first conference game of the season, Boston College (8-6, 1-0 ACC) defeated the Orange men 96-81 Sunday afternoon at Silvio O. Conte Forum.The Eagles shot 57.1 percent from the field and a stunning 61.5 percent from three-point range, making 16 of 26 attempts.
'The quarterback'
Boston College Head Coach Jim Christian praised his freshman guard Ky Bowman who recorded 30 points and nine assists on the afternoon. Sunday was Bowman's second game this season that he scored 30 points or more. Christian said the former University of North Carolina football commit is becoming the go-to guy for BC basketball.
"He's obviously played unbelievably well in the last four, five games, but that's the way he practiced." Christian. "He just wasn't performing in the game the way we knew he could and we had a conversation where I had to say 'hey listen, you're the guy. You're my guy.' Like the NFL where they say you're the quarterback."
Christian said that conversation was before BC defeated Auburn on Dec. 12 and since then, Bowman has scored in double digits every game.
Bowman said he felt the leadership that comes with the quarterback title during that game."I felt like it was easy for me to adjust but during the Auburn game I felt like I really like, was able to like, keep the team together as far as leadership and bringing everyone together as one," he said.
Bowman shot 11-17 field goals and went 7-8 from behind the arc against Syracuse.
Jerome Robinson added 22 points for the Eagles. A.J. Turner had 16 and Nik Popovic eleven.
Defensive struggles
Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim was plainly disappointed with his team's performance in the ACC opener, especially on defense.
"We missed a few easy shots early that would have helped us but our defense is just not good right now," he said.
The Orange switched to man-to-man defense in the second half "out of desperation," Boeheim said.
Although Syracuse only hit 38 percent of its field goals and 30 percent from behind the arc, Boeheim hammered home how important defense is.
"If you give guys open shots in college basketball they're gonna make them," he said. "Against anyone who can shoot at all, our defense has been non-existent."
Sunday's loss to the Eagles was the highest score Syracuse has allowed so far this season, even worse than the 93 points in the loss to St. John's at the Carrier Dome.
Boeheim also said problems on defense will be hard to correct at this point in the season, but the Orange will continue to focus on it in practice.
Eagles keep the handle
Christian said a huge part of the Eagles game plan was to try not to let Syracuse create turnovers.
"Thirteen turnovers was huge for us because they lead the league in steals. They average ten steals a game so not allowing them to get live ball turnovers that they can convert was a major, major part of the game plan." he said.
Orange Offense
Andrew White III led Syracuse in scoring with 22 and two of his teammates had double-doubles in the losing effort.
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Tyler Roberson put up eleven points and ten rebounds and Tyler Lydon had 17 points and 12 rebounds.
Taurean Thompson chipped in 14 points.
"I don't think we're where we want to be as far as defense and we've got a lot of work to do," Roberson said.
Up next
The ACC season is just getting started for these teams. Boston College will travel to Wake Forest to take on the Demon Deacons on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Syracuse will head home to host Miami on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in hopes of getting its first ACC win of the season.
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