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Jerome Robinson had a career-high 20 points, but a sloppy performance from field-general Eli Carter and 12 first-half turnovers led to no. 15-ranked Miami's 67-53 routing of the Eagles on Wednesday night at Conte Forum.
"We're not a team that usually turns the ball over, and that hurt us with the way we were aggressively attacking the rim all night," BC head coach Jim Christian said post-game.
On the winning side, Miami coach Jim Larrañaga called the Hurricanes' margin of victory one of the biggest in his recent memory, but—as ACC play often predicates—the final score wasn't entirely indicative of how close the two teams battled all night.
With 7:03 to go in the second half, Eli Carter drove to the basket and made a cool underhand layup to draw BC within five, 47-52. In the next possession, a turnover by Angel Rodriguez led to another quick jumper by Carter after a nifty pass from Robinson, pulling the Eagles within one score. This was as close as the Eagles got, though. Carter, who averages 17.6 points per game in the ACC, couldn't execute late and went 0-for-4 in the last five minutes of the game. Freshman forward A.J. Turner, who had five points and four rebounds for BC, sealed the Hurricanes' victory when he lost control of the ball down 62-53 with 1:42 to play. Dribbling-related errors piled up for the Eagles, who are still winless in ACC play.
Kristen Morse / Gavel Media
"We took a lot of ill-advised shots, shots that you think you can maybe make, and you can't do that against a ranked team like Miami," a visibly disconcerted Christian said. "Eli [Carter] is one of our best shooters. He's the playmaker that makes shots, and when he's not on with the limited offensive options we have, it's tough to get ahead."
On the back of senior guard Sheldon McClellan, Miami went on a six-point scoring streak in the last two minutes, extending their one possession lead from three minutes earlier to a 13-point whomping of a young, young BC team. McClellan had 19 points and three steals, while Rodriguez had 12 points and two steals.
In the first half, BC kept themselves in the game - despite 12 turnovers - with strong interior play from center Dennis Clifford and freshman forward Idy Diallo. Clifford only had four points, including an impressive 15-foot baseline jumper in the first half over the towering Miami center Tonye Jekiri, and gathered eight rebounds.
"Jekiri is pretty good; Clifford was in foul trouble most of the first half, but I felt that he held his own," said Christian.
BC continues its tough stretch of conference play with an away game against Notre Dame on Saturday at noon.
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Born in New York, from Philadelphia, but meant to live in New England.
