March 6, 2010

Sunday - Listen | Watch | Live Stats | Game Notes

Final Stats | Postgame Comments - Part I | Part II | Part III

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - Led by a combined 54 points from senior Corey Lowe and sophomore Jake O'Brien, the fourth-seeded Boston University men's basketball defeated Hartford, 87-46, in the quarterfinals of the America East Championship presented by Newman's Own on Saturday afternoon at Chase Arena. With their seventh win in eight games, the Terriers (18-12) advance to the semifinals for the third time in four seasons and will next face top-seeded Stony Brook (22-8) on Sunday at 5 p.m.

BU earned the tournament's second-largest margin of victory ever with hot shooting and solid defense under the basket. Recently announced third-team all-conference honoree O'Brien went 3-for-4 from beyond the arc and 8-for-13 inside to finish with a career-high 28 points along with seven rebounds, three blocks and a steal. Placed on the second team, Lowe came off the bench to tally 26 points, four assists and two steals. The program's No. 3 all-time scorer tied a career high in made 3-pointers with seven off nine attempts and also surpassed BU Hall of Famer Tunji Awojobi ('97) in minutes played with 3,734 to sit atop another school record.

Earning his second consecutive all-conference first-team award, John Holland contributed 12 points and nine rebounds, while Jeff Pelage posted a game-high 11 boards. Tyler Morris recorded nine points while tying a career high in assists with seven. The Terriers shot 29-for-59 (.492) and 14-for-26 (.538) from beyond the arc. They also won the battle at the glass with a 21-board margin, 50-29, and allowed a season-low 46 points.

Joe Zeglinski was the lone Hawk in double figures with 11 points off 4-for-13 shooting, while the team's second-leading scorer, Morgan Sabia, posted seven points off 2-for-16 shooting and a 1-for-4 performance at the line. UH went 17-for-58 (.293) and 5-for-25 (.200) from beyond the arc, as the Terriers' 3-point field goal defensive percentage dropped further to .301. The Hawks committed three fewer turnovers, 12-9, but could never apply enough pressure to stay close.

BU trailed early by one, 6-5, after Sabia hit his only two made field goals of the game but then went on an 18-4 run to take a commanding 23-10 lead with 11:10 remaining. The Terriers finished the rest of the half scoring 25 of the next 35 points to enter the locker room ahead, 48-20.

Lowe was 4-for-5 in 3-point territory and helped BU set a conference tournament record for made treys in a half with nine total. The 28-point halftime lead was the team's largest of the season, surpassing the 19-point edge against Binghamton on Feb. 17.

In the second, the Terriers built the lead to as large as 45 before completing the three-game sweep over the Hawks. BU last accomplished the feat in 2007 over Binghamton and will try to avoid a similar fate to the Seawolves on Sunday.

Stony Brook won, 84-75, at Case on Jan. 2 and then pulled out a 71-55 victory on Jan. 30. Since that loss though, the Terriers have been playing their best basketball of the season, outscoring opponents by 19.4 ppg and holding them to 34.8 percent shooting for a 7-1 record with the one blemish being a 76-75 loss to Vermont.

The semifinal contest is slated for 5 p.m. and will be televised on WZMY-TV in Boston/Manchester (N.H.) and the Connecticut Sports Network. Fans can also follow through AmericaEast.tv.

 

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