Bell scores 20, Brown adds 19 and Syracuse holds off Boston College 69-59
Syracuse guard Kyle Cuffe Jr. (0) runs a gauntlet through Boston College defenders during an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Syracuse, N.Y. Credit: AP/N. Scott Trimble
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Chris Bell scored 20 points, Maliq Brown added 19 points, and Syracuse defeated Boston College 69-59 on Wednesday night.
Bell was 8-for-14 shooting and made four 3-pointers. Brown was 6 for 11 from the field, made 7 of 8 free throws, grabbed eight rebounds and had four assists.
Judah Mintz, Syracuse's leading scorer at 19.1 points per game, did not start due to a violation of team rules and should be back in the starting lineup on Saturday, coach Adrian Autry said. The Orange (11-4, 2-2 ACC) play at No. 7 North Carolina on Saturday. Mintz played 31 minutes against Boston College and scored 10 points on 1-of-7 shooting plus seven free throws in eight attempts.
Claudell Harris Jr. had 16 points, Devin McGlockton 15 points and 14 rebounds, Mason Madsen 11 points and Prince Aligbe 10 for Boston College (10-5, 1-3).
BC shot 53% over the first 12 minutes of the second half and got within 49-48 after Chas Kelley III hit back-to-back layups and Madsen added a 3-pointer heading to the under-8:00 timeout. On the other side of the timeout, Aligbe's layup gave Boston College its only lead of the game, 50-49, with 7:27 remaining.
Bell then hit a 3-pointer to put Syracuse back on top, and although the Eagles tied it once more, the Orange did not surrender the lead for the remainder of the game. Syracuse made 5 of 9 shots in the final five minutes and added six points at the line. Boston College shot 3 for 9 and did not attempt a free throw in the same stretch.
For the game, Syracuse made 17 of 23 free throws, had only eight turnovers and was called for seven personal fouls. Boston College was 3-for-4 shooting from the line, had 22 turnovers and was called for 18 fouls.
Syracuse guard Kyle Cuffe Jr. (0) tries to anticipate Boston College guard Mason Madsen (45) during an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Syracuse, N.Y. Credit: AP/N. Scott Trimble
The Orange scored the first eight points of the game and later in the half added an 11-0 run that gave them a 28-9 lead. Syracuse led 32-14 with 2 minutes to go before Harris hit a 3-pointer and Madsen added a layup and a 3-pointer to get the Eagles within 32-22 at the break.
Boston College plays at No. 21 Clemson on Saturday.
Syracuse plays at No. 7 North Carolina on Saturday.
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