March 11, 2006

Final Stats

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) - Craig Smith had 21 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists to lead No. 11 Boston College past Maryland 80-66 in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament Friday night.

Tyrese Rice added 19 points and Jared Dudley had 18 for the third-seeded Eagles (25-6), who got off to a great start in their first tournament appearance to earn a date with No. 10 North Carolina in Saturday's semifinals.

James Gist scored 14 points for the sixth-seeded Terrapins (19-12), who routed Georgia Tech in Thursday's first round but fell behind early against the Eagles and never recovered.

The win allowed Boston College to avenge a 73-71 loss at Maryland in its league debut, which was part of an 0-3 start in its new conference. The Eagles led throughout this time, scoring 19 of the game's first 21 points and taking a 21-point lead midway through the first half.

Boston College roared to leads of 19-2 and 22-4 before going ahead 27-6 on a jumper from Akida McLain off a feed from Smith with about 9 minutes left in the half.

Maryland shot just 7-for-29 (24 percent) in the opening half, while Boston College shot 50 percent and had 12 assists on 14 baskets. The Eagles also went 5-for-8 from 3-point range in the half.

The lead grew to 59-35 on a runner by Rice with 12 1/2 minutes left before the Terrapins closed the margin to 14 points three times in the final minutes. Maryland made its best push with a 10-0 run to close to 61-47 on free throws by Gist with 7:31 left, but Boston College answered with two free throws from Rice and a tip-in by Dudley to push it back to 18.