WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Jerome Robinson scored 23 points and Ky Bowman added 21 to lead Boston College over Hartford 73-61 on Saturday.
Jordan Chatman returned the lineup after missing the Nebraska game with a shoulder injury and finished with 12 points. Nik Popovic added 13 points and 11 rebounds.
“They can shoot the ball,” Robinson said. “It was tough for us for a little bit, but we ended up pulling it out.”
John Carroll led Hartford (3-6) with 20 points, J.R. Lynch added 13 and the Hawks’ 10 3-pointers helped keep them in the game.
Hartford took its only lead of the second half, 54-53, on a 3-pointer by Jason Dunn with 6:52 left to play.
Bowman answered at the other end with a 3-pointer to give Boston College a 56-54 lead. The Eagles then went on a 13-5 run to create some distance from the Hawks.
“Give credit to Boston College, they made the shots down the stretch,” Hartford coach John Gallagher said. “The old adage is, ’It’s a make-miss game.’ “They had some makes that hit the top of the backboard and went in. And we had some shots literally go in and out.”
The Eagles shot 44.3 percent from the field, including 46.9 in the second half. Hartford was 39.4 percent in the second half and only 4-for-17 on 3-pointers after making 6-for-14 in the first half.
The Hawks raced to a 15-4 lead in the opening five minutes of the game, hitting three 3s in the run.
“It’s a forty minute game,” Boston College coach Jim Christian said. “Sometimes you get off to a bad start. We didn’t make shots. They made some shots. That’s basketball.”
Robinson, who scored 10 points in the first half, helped the Eagles respond with a 15-2 run. Chatman capped the comeback with a 3-pointer to give Boston College a 19-17 lead and a 31-30 edge at halftime.
The Eagles outrebounded the Hawks 40-28 and outscored them 38-18 in the paint.
Early in the game, Hartford honored Vin Baker, who was a star with the Hawks prior to going to the NBA. Baker’s son, Vin Baker Jr., is a freshman on the Eagles team.
BIG PICTURE
Boston College: The short-handed Eagles, who were without starter Deontae Hawkins (knee) secured a much-needed win after dropping three of its last four. The Eagles started the season 3-0, but still have not beaten a school from a Power 5 conference.
Hartford: The Hawks are on a four-game losing skid, but have almost a month to get things right before opening in the America East.
STAT OF THE NIGHT
The Eagles came into the game shooting just 69.7 percent from the foul line, but finished a season-best 92.3 percent (12 of 13).
HE SAID IT
“This is college basketball, you don’t just walk in and beat people. It’s college basketball and you have to play every game. It was good for us to find a way to win.” - Boston College coach Jim Christian.
TURNING POINT
After Hartford took a 54-53 lead, the Eagles collected two offensive rebounds on their ensuing possession before Bowman sank his 3-pointer. For the game, Boston College scored 14 points on 13 offensive rebounds.
UP NEXT
Boston College has six days off before opening Atlantic Coast Conference play with Duke at home.
Hartford started a three-game homestand with in-state rivals. Quinnipiac and Sacred Heart are up next.
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