Nov. 19, 2010
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BOSTON - Playing in his first home game after sitting out last season as a transfer, junior guard Matt Griffin had a career day with all 21 of his points coming in the second half to lead the Boston University men's basketball team past Marist, 58-37, on Friday night at Case Gymnasium. Trailing 28-27 with 14:04 remaining in regulation, the Terriers (2-2) went on a 23-1 run ignited by back-to-back 3-pointers from Griffin to pull out the win against the Red Foxes (0-3).
Junior transfer Patrick Hazel also had a performance to remember but on the defensive end with a personal-best four blocks and 13 rebounds, topping his previous high of six rebounds at Marquette. Senior John Holland was pestered all game by Marist's defense and finished with seven points and six rebounds, while fellow preseason all-conference honoree Jake O'Brien played just nine minutes due to being sick with a 24-hour bug.
Named America East Player of the Game, Griffin stepped up big for the Terriers coming off the bench by hitting all seven of his field goal attempts, including five from beyond the arc, to top his previous high of 11 points scored at Rider. The rest of the team shot 13-for-46 (.282), but the defense had a solid night by holding the Red Foxes to just five field goals in the second half. Candon Rusin led Marist with 16 points, but only managed three in the second, as the team finished the night 12-for-45 (.267) from the field.
BU started strong with a 10-3 run in front of the energized crowd with junior Darryl Partin draining an open 3-pointer and O'Brien slamming home the ball after grabbing an offensive rebound. However, following freshman Dom Morris' made free throw at 14:42, the Terriers failed to score another point until the 7:48 mark when classmate D.J. Irving drove to the basket to push the lead to 12-7.
Following Irving's made 3-pointer on BU's next possession, Rusin brought Marist back into the contest by going on a 10-0 run by himself off a jumper, two 3-pointers and two made free throws at 3:50 for the 17-15 lead. The first half would end on three consecutive 3-point plays with Holland and Partin draining one trey apiece and then Rusin hitting a layup while getting fouled. He made his free throw to enter the locker room trailing the Terriers, 21-20.
In the second stanza, the teams went back and forth with the Red Foxes taking their final lead, 28-27, with 14:04 remaining on Jay Bowie's jumper. At that point, Griffin took over the game offensively by tallying 16 points during the next nine minutes to give the Terriers a 50-29 lead at 5:13.
BU outrebounded Marist, 41-30, and had 17 offensive rebounds after recording a combined 26 boards through the first three games. The Terriers will now try to rest a little bit before hitting the road again for the consolation rounds of the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off.
After earning a win against George Washington and falling to No. 6 Villanova earlier in the week, they will travel to the Colonials' campus in the nation's capital and face Hampton on Monday (Nov. 22) and then Nevada on Tuesday (Nov. 23) with action slated to begin both days at 5:30 p.m.
