Wells Carries Maryland Past BC 88-80
BOSTON (AP) -- Dez Wells scored 18 of his career-high 33 points in the closing seven minutes to carry Maryland to an 88-80 win over Boston College Thursday night in the Terrapins' final league-opener as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Roddy Peters added 14 points, Jake Layman 13 and Nick Faust 11 for the Terrapins (6-4, 1-0 ACC).
Olivier Hanlan led Boston College (3-7, 0-1) with 26 points, Garland Owens had 16 and Ryan Anderson 14 with eight rebounds.
Anderson became the 40th player in school history to reach the 1,000-point mark when he nailed a jumper from the right corner, tying the game at 70 with 4:30 to go. But Layman and Wells scored consecutive driving baskets, pushing the Terrapins ahead for good.
Wells scored 14 of Maryland's 18 points during a 4 1/2 minute stretch.
BC closed to within two points twice, but never had a chance to tie or go ahead late.
After the Eagles sliced it to 76-74 on Owens' basket, Wells banked in a short jumper and was fouled on the play. He missed the free throw, but Jonathan Graham tipped in a missed shot on the next possession, sparking a 9-2 run that sealed it.
The Eagles, who entered the week leading the country in free throw shooting at 80.8 percent, went 22 for 27 from the line.
Maryland, which held a four-point halftime edge, led 54-47 before the Eagles went on a 10-2 run, taking their first lead of the game on Hanlan's two free throws with 10:20 to play.
Maryland led 42-36 at the half.
The Terrapins opened a 23-11 lead early in the first half on Faust's 3-pointer from the left corner before BC scored 19 of the next 27 points. Owens came off the bench and sparked the spree with an alley-oop dunk and a pair of 3s. He entered the game with just three made 3-pointers this season.
At halftime, BC showed highlights of Andre Williams winning the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back on the video boards.
Boston Celtics President/GM Danny Ainge was seated courtside.
The Terrapins have a pair of Massachusetts kids (Evan Smotrycz and Layman) in the starting lineup.
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
