Boston College will look to continue its Cayman Islands Classic run with a second straight win when it plays Monday night against Missouri State in George Town, Grand Cayman.
To advance in the winner’s bracket, the Eagles (4-1) cruised to an 82-52 win Sunday over Old Dominion.
Missouri State (4-1) topped previously undefeated High point 71-61.
Donald Hand Jr. posted a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double and Fred Payne added 11 points in 14 minutes off the bench to lead Boston College in its opener in the Cayman Islands, while the eight other scorers for fourth-year coach Earl Grant’s team scored between six and nine points.
“I thought the players really won the day,” Grant told WEEI. “I felt good before we came to the Cayman Islands because of the way we practiced. … I think today was just a carry-over of the fruits of our labor.”
A complete effort from the Eagles featured a season-high 18 assists and saw freshman Luka Toews nail two 3-pointers.
“You want (the young players coming off the bench) to grow up,” Grant said. “Specifically in a tournament like this, with three games in three days, you need to use the bench. … Hopefully (our starters) understand that and have a lot of energy for (the next game).”
Boston College has never faced Missouri State, just as it hadn’t met Old Dominion.
Led by a career-high 27 points and 10 rebounds from Vincent Brady II, Missouri State used a 40-26 advantage on the glass — including 16 offensive boards — and 17-of-21 free-throw shooting to hold off High Point.
Coach Cuonzo Martin’s Bears, who were picked 11th out of 12 teams in the Missouri Valley Conference’s preseason poll, have won four straight since a 72-65, season-opening loss at Butler of the Big East.
“This was a great win against a very talented, well-coached team,” Martin said. “We knew we had to get great guard play and fight hard to the final buzzer, and it was a great game between two very talented teams.”
Dez White, who spent his freshman season at Austin Peay, remains the team’s top scorer with an average of 16.4 points per game after a 13-point Sunday.
Brady, a transfer from IU Indianapolis, was last week’s Valley Newcomer of the Week. He contributes 15.4 points and 5.6 rebounds a contest while shooting 42.1 percent from 3-point range.
In the Cayman final on Tuesday, the winner of the Boston College-Missouri State game will meet the winner of the earlier game Monday between South Dakota State and Boise State.
–Field Level Media
