Boston College takes its home floor for the second time this season Friday when undefeated Temple pays a visit to Chestnut Hill, Mass.
The Eagles (1-1) have not won any of the four all-time meetings between the programs — this is the first since 2003 — and look to bounce back from losing 80-55 to VCU last Friday in the Veterans’ Classic in Annapolis, Md.
Despite a team-high 17 points from Donald Hand Jr. and Roger McFarlane recording a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, fourth-year coach Earl Grant’s team shot just 29.3 percent and allowed 24 points off 17 turnovers.
“(VCU) obviously capitalized on our mistakes, and a lot of our mistakes were uncharacteristic,” Grant said. “I’m glad it (was) the second game of the year. I think we’re a lot better than what we showed.”
As of Thursday, Hand was the third-leading scorer in the Atlantic Coast Conference, averaging 19.5 points per game alongside 9.0 rebounds.
“He’s kind of paid his dues,” Grant said. “He’s been loyal and been around the program, kind of like an elder statesman at this point. And even though he’s … only (in his second year) on the court and really hadn’t had the opportunity (for) playing time. Now he’s in a new role, and he stepped up by playing good basketball.”
Temple (3-0) is now chasing its first 4-0 start since 2019 following a 69-61 win over Drexel on Tuesday.
In the Owls’ first Big 5 game of the season, Philadelphia native Zion Stanford netted a career-high 23 points of 9-ofo-13 shooting with two 3-pointers.
Continuing that success on the road is the focus now.
“That’s what good teams do, right? You have to win in nonconference play away from home,” Temple coach Adam Fisher said. “Good teams take care of your games at home. We had two in November, took care of that. … This will be our first opportunity in a true road game, against an ACC school. We’re trying to build this team so we can play meaningful games in March.”
Jamal Mashburn Jr. added 20 points against the Dragons after eclipsing that number in the first two games against Sacred Heart and Monmouth. The New Mexico transfer’s 23.7 points per game rank second in the American Athletic Conference in the early going.
–Field Level Media
