Like a horror movie bad guy, Boston College kept coming back, but Syracuse had one last run in them to put them away for good and grab a 79-65 home win on Saturday. The Orange (9-5, 2-1 ACC) but together three big runs in the game, with the last one within being a 16-4 burst that gave them a 65-55 lead over the Eagles (7-7, 1-2) with just over six minutes to play.
BC would get within eight with three minutes to go, but Syracuse closed the deal by scoring on four of five possessions to add eight straight points for some cushion.
Joe Girard III had 24 points for SU to lead all scorers, half of them coming on his four three-pointers. Judah Mintz added 18 points and doled out seven assists while Benny Williams had a career day with 16 points, 11 rebounds (five offensive), three blocks, and two steals. Jesse Edwards had ten points and eight boards in a foul-shortened effort and Mounir Hima supported him with four blocks in 15 minutes of play as his understudy.
Makai Ashton-Langford topped Boston College with 14 points. Prince Aligbe and T.J. Bickerstaff each added a dozen points to the Eagle effort while Devin McGlockton and Quinten Post each chipped in with eight.
BC had the better of things in the opening minutes, eventually building a 13-6 lead less than seven minutes into the game. The Orange responded with their first run, an 18-4 deluge that catapulted them into a seven-point lead. Girard had eight points in the run, including a pair of threes, and SU owned a 24-17 lead with 6:41 left in the opening half.
The Eagles erased that margin with seven straight points, but Syracuse replied with a 12-3 burst to finish the half. Williams was the leading man, scoring the final seven points of the run, including a three-pointer to cap the streak and give the Orange a 36-27 halftime lead.
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Boston College needed three minutes and change to clip the lead down to five, but Mintz and Girard needed less than 80 seconds to double that lead at 46-36 in favor of SU. The Eagles surged once more, ripping off a dozen straight markers for a two-point lead.
After each team added three to their respective sides of the ledger, Syracuse posted the decisive 16-4 run to take control of the contest for good. Justin Taylor struck from behind the arc to put the Orange in front, then added another triple just over 90 seconds later for a six-point lead. After a BC basket, Mintz had a three-point-play, then assisted on a Girard trey for a 65-55 lead with six minutes and loose change on the clock.
The two sides alternated scores for three minutes before the Eagle attack dried up and SU hung eight straight points for their biggest lead at 79-63 with 21 seconds to go.
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