James Karnik scored a team-high 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds as Boston College ran away from South Florida for a 64-49 victory in a nonconference contest on Monday night in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Makai Ashton-Langford and Quinten Post added 11 points apiece for Boston College (5-3), which won its second straight game following a three-game losing streak. All five of the Eagles’ victories have come on their home court, while the team is 0-3 in neutral-site and road games.
T.J. Bickerstaff added 10 points and a game-high eight rebounds for the Eagles, who shot 53.8 percent (14 of 26) from the field in the second half to put the game away.
Caleb Murphy had a team-high 11 points, DJ Patrick added seven points and six rebounds and Javon Greene scored seven to pace the Bulls.
South Florida (3-3) was denied back-to-back victories following a 58-52 win over Hampton on Wednesday. The Bulls have not won consecutive games all season.
Boston College led 30-24 at halftime and maintained a steady advantage for most of the second half. South Florida pulled within 46-42 when Greene sank two free throws with 6:50 remaining, but Bickerstaff’s layup and Brevin Galloway’s 3-pointer sparked a 18-7 run for Boston College to close the game.
The Eagles led by as many as 17 points in the closing seconds.
The Bulls led 7-5 after Russel Tchewa’s dunk at 16:21 of the opening period. Bickerstaff tied it with a pair of free throws 20 seconds later, and the Eagles never trailed after that. Karnik’s 3-pointer with 14:51 on the clock gave Boston College the lead for good at 12-9.
Boston College hosts Notre Dame in its Atlantic Coast Conference opener on Friday night. South Florida also returns to action on Friday night when it hosts South Carolina State.
–Field Level Media
