Dec. 16, 2012
Box Score | Video Highlights | J. Papale Postgame Comments
BOSTON - Following freshman John Papale's game-tying 3-pointer with 5.4 seconds remaining in regulation, the Boston University men's basketball team opened the extra session on a 9-2 run en route to a thrilling 69-62 overtime victory over Quinnipiac at Case Gym on Sunday afternoon.
Earning their fourth win in five games, the Terriers improve to 4-6, while the Bobcats drop to 3-6. Featuring nine ties and nine lead changes, the contest marked BU's first overtime game since Nov. 11, 2011 and the second for Quinnipiac this season after an earlier 89-83 double overtime defeat to Connecticut.
Leading BU in scoring for the first time all season, Papale went 4-of-7 from behind the arc to finish with 16 points. Junior D.J. Irving recorded 14 points and four assists, while freshman Maurice Watson Jr. posted 11 points, a season-high five steals and four assists. Junior Dom Morris and sophomore Malik Thomas were the other two in double figures with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Thomas also had a team-high seven rebounds.
Ike Azotam led Quinnipiac with a game-high 19 points and 10 rebounds for the double double. Zaid Hearst also shot 50 percent from the field for 18 points. The Bobcats out-rebounded BU, 43-36, but were enticed into 22 turnovers for a costly 30 points.
Quinnipiac opened the game with Hearst scoring nine of the Bobcats' first 11 points. His fourth made field goal at 14:07 gave the team its largest lead of the game, 11-5. The Terriers responded over the following seven minutes with a 10-0 run capped by Irving's jumper to move ahead, 15-11, with 7:58 remaining in the half.
The teams then exchanged runs, as Azotam's tip-in gave Quinnipiac a 21-17 advantage at 4:51. On the ensuing possession, Papale nailed a 3-pointer to ignite a 9-0 run that finished with Thomas' layup at 1:43. The Terriers were unable to maintain the lead though heading into the locker room, as the Bobcats scored seven straight points behind a 3-pointer and layup by Kendrick Ray.
Trailing 28-26 at the half, the Terriers started the second with a defensive stop and layup by Morris for the sixth tie of the contest. Watson fed freshman Justin Alston for the layup and 40-35 lead at 10:59. He later assisted on Papale's 3-pointer that gave BU the 49-45 advantage with 1:37 remaining.
Quinnipiac responded immediately with a 3-pointer from Hearst to cut the deficit to one. The Bobcats moved ahead, 50-49, after a defensive stop and layup by Jamee Jackson. Following a timeout, BU missed on a contested layup and fouled Garvey Young with 12 seconds remaining.
Young drained both shots at the charity stripe for the 52-49 advantage. After another timeout, the Terriers though were able to find the equalizer, as Watson fed Papale at the top of the key for the 3-pointer. Dave Johnson pushed the ball up the court in the final five seconds but was unable to convert on a 3-point attempt, as the teams went to overtime.
Watson started the extra session with a steal and drive to the basket. Fouled on his layup attempt, he hit both free throws to give BU the lead for good. Papale followed up a short jumper with his fourth and final 3-pointer for a 61-54 lead with 3:06 left.
Morris' dunk at 1:50 put the Terriers ahead, 65-57. Shooting 8-of-10 at the line in overtime, BU grabbed its largest lead of the contest, 69-59, with four seconds remaining following two free throws from Watson.
The Terriers went 4-of-6 from the field in the extra session to conclude the game 23-of-61 (.377). After shooting 50 percent in the first half, Quinnipiac went 13-of-33 (.394) the rest of the way to finish 25-of-57 (.439).
At the line, BU shot 17-of-23 (.739) while the Bobcats went 8-of-14 (.571). The Terriers committed just 11 miscues against Quinnipiac's 22 to finish ahead in points off turnovers, 30-8.
After evening the all-time series at 2-2, the Terriers will next conclude the two-game homestand on Saturday (Dec. 22) against Cornell with tip-off slated for 1 p.m.
