Boston College desperately needs to drum up some offense.
In their final tuneup before Atlantic Coast Conference play begins, the Eagles meet Le Moyne on Sunday in Chestnut Hill, Mass., with Boston College ranked last among ACC teams in scoring at (70.5 points per game) and 3-point field goal percentage (28.4%).
They hope they have discovered a spark.
Guard Luka Toews made a career-high six 3-pointers in nine attempts and scored a career-high 21 points in Boston College’s most recent game, a 72-61 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson on Monday night.
“He’s a winner and that’s why we recruited him,” Boston College coach Earl Grant said. “He’s won at every level. He’s getting better every day. He’s finding his niche, finding his role.”
Toews began the season as a reserve but started each of Boston College’s past three games. The sophomore from Tokyo averages 6.7 points and 17.4 minutes per game and shoots 44.4% from beyond the 3-point arc (12 of 27).
Boston College (6-6) allowed eight 3-pointers in the first half against Fairleigh Dickinson and trailed 33-25 at halftime, but scored 47 points in the second half to improve to 5-2 at home.
“I was really focusing on the little things,” Toews said. “I was really trying to get us in the offense, doing my job, pushing the ball, and being a pest on defense.”
Le Moyne (5-7), which has lost two in a row, averages 8.3 made 3-pointers per game. More pertinent to Boston College’s plans offensively: The Dolphins rank 364th out of 365 Division I team in 3-point defensive percentage (40.2%).
Shilo Jackson, a 6-foot-9 forward, leads the Dolphins in scoring (14.6 ppg) and rebounding (8.4 rpg).
“Shilo Jackson brings us an interior presence we haven’t had the past couple years,” Le Moyne coach Nate Champion said. “Some rebounding ability and the ability to block shots as well.”
Le Moyne has three other players scoring in double figures: guard Trent Mosquera (14.5), guard Deng Garang (13.0) and guard Jakai Sanders (11.0). Mosquera has drilled 35 of 82 3-point attempts for a Northeast Conference-best 42.7% accuracy rate.
Guard Donald Hand is Boston College’s leading scorer (14.9) and No. 2 rebounder (5.5).
–Field Level Medoa
