Chestnut Hill, MA -- A shot by Darin Smith, Jr. with three seconds to play lifted the Central Connecticut State men's basketball team past Boston College, 60-59, on Tuesday night in Chestnut Hill, MA. The Blue Devils held the Eagles to just one point over the final four and a half minutes to win a game that it had not held a lead in until 6:45 was left in the second half.

Smith, Jr.  finished with 14 points and five rebounds, while Melo Sanchez tied for high-scorer honors in the game with 17 points. Central shot 23-of-60 (.383) from the field in the game and was 8-of-22 (.364) from three-point range. CCSU was 6-of-10 at the foul line in the game.

Boston College was led by Fred Payne's 17 points. The Eagles shot 22-of-67 (.328) from the field overall and was just 7-of-34 (.206) from three-point range.

GAME INFORMATION |  BOX SCORE
Score:  CCSU 60, BOSTON COLLEGE 59
Records: CCSU (2-1, 0-0 NEC), BC (1-2, 0-0 ACC)
Location: Conte Forum | Chestnut Hill, MA

KEY MOMENTS

• Boston College scored the opening basket just 22 seconds into the game and led 8-0 before CCSU managed to score its first basket on a Jayden Mott dunk 2:11 into the game. Central would limit BC to shooting 1-for-6 over a three-minute span and the Blue Devils would tie the contest at 10-10 on a jumper by Jay Rodgers.
• The Eagles would recover and pushed the lead back to as much as 24-17, but were unable to comfortably separate from the Blue Devils. After Smith, Jr. finished a three-point play with under a minute left in the half to make it a 27-25 game, the Eagles hit a trifecta before Max Frazier hit 1-of-2 foul shots just before intermission to make it 30-26 at the break.
• CCSU fell behind 39-28 in the opening 2:37 of the second half after a 9-2 BC run to open the period. The Eagles still led, 45-35, with 13:48 to play, but the Blue Devils would chip away at the deficit.
• Sanchez, who hit four three-pointers after halftime, would connect on a trey with 7:57 to play to pull CCSU within, 52-51. Following a BC score, Max Frazier converted a layup and then made a steal and finished an alley-oop to give Central its first lead at 55-54 with 6:45 to play.
• BC regained the lead with 4:34 left before a foul shot by Elijah Parker tied the game and a James Jones jumper gave CCSU a two-point lead with 3:04 to go. The Eagles would get a three-point play by Payne with 2:02 remaining, but that would be their final points. Frazier controlled a rebound with 0:15 to play that set up the final possession when Smith, Jr. would drive into the paint and get his layup in traffic to fall with :03 on the clock.

NUMBER TO KNOW

1 – The Blue Devils defense held BC to just one field goal over the final 4:33 and did not allow the Eagles to score in the final 2:02.

NOTES

• Sanchez was 4-of-5 on three-pointers in the second half. He finished the game 5-of-8 on threes overall.
• Smith, Jr. add five rebounds and a steal in 32 minutes.
• Frazier chipped in nine points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots.
• CCSU outrebounded BC, 41-40
• Central's bench outscored Boston College's, 31-8
• CCSU led for just 3:16 in the game, while BC held the lead for 35:18
• The Blue Devils defeated the Eagles for the first time in eight meetings.
• The win was Central's first over a school in a Power 4 conference since moving to Division I in 1986-87.

UP NEXT

• CCSU plays at UMass on Sunday afternoon.