Nov. 30, 2011
Box Score | Highlights | T. Robinson's postgame comments
BOSTON - Facing the nation's leading scorer, senior Darryl Partin recorded 10 of his game-high 27 points in the final five minutes to lead the Boston University men's basketball team to a 73-67 victory over Delaware on Wednesday night at Case Gymnasium. Earning their third straight win, the Terriers improve to 3-4, while the Blue Hens drop to 2-3.
Entering the week ranked eighth in the nation at 22.8 points per game, America East Player of the Game Darryl Partin went 12-of-26 from the field and added seven rebounds with two steals. Sophomore Travis Robinson tallied a career-high 16 points, while classmate D.J. Irving nearly had a triple-double with a personal-best 11 assists, eight points and seven rebounds.
Leading the NCAA at 24.5 ppg, sophomore Devon Sadler went 4-of-6 in the first half but only hit 2-of-13 attempts in the second to finish with 20 points. Jamelle Hagins was a force inside with 17 points, 12 rebounds, five blocks and four steals to help Delaware edge BU in rebounds, 36-35. Josh Brinkley posted 12 points as the third Blue Hen in double figures.
Trailing 58-56 with 6:35 remaining, Robinson nailed his fourth 3-pointer of the game to give the Terriers the lead for good. After Delaware cut a seven-point deficit to three with a tip-in by Hagins at the one-minute mark, Partin drained a contested 16-foot jumper and ended the game with a fastbreak layup following his own steal for the victory.
Both offenses got off to a fast start, combining for 24 points in the first four minutes. Partin hit back-to-back baskets to give BU an early 12-6 advantage, but then the Blue Hens responded with a 17-4 run capped by Jamelle Hagins' short jumper at 11:53 for Delaware's largest lead of the game.
The teams battled back and forth, and BU took the lead back (33-32) with 5:29 remaining in the half following a 3-pointer by Irving and jumper by Partin. Saddler and Kyle Anderson nailed their own treys in the final two minutes to help Delaware enter the locker room with a 38-37 lead.
Robinson opened the second half with a 3-pointer, but Delaware quickly tied the game with a layup and made free throw by Brinkley. After BU took a 48-43 lead at 14:57, the Blue Hens pushed back on a 14-4 spurt that finished with a Hagins dunk with 9:54 remaining.
Delaware shot 57.7 percent in the first half but went cold against the Terriers' defense over the following eight minutes with 14 straight missed field goal attempts. During that stretch, BU erupted for a 15-3 run capped by Partin's jumper at 2:08 to grab the momentum and earn the victory.
BU gave up 20 second-chance points to a bigger Delaware squad that grabbed 12 offensive rebounds in the second half. The Terriers through had a 16-8 advantage in points off turnovers and committed just 10 miscues during the contest. They also went 8-of-16 (.500) from beyond the arc, while the Blue Hens shot 6-of-21 (.286).
Following the win, BU will remain in town and visit Boston College on Saturday (Dec. 3). The crosstown rivals will meet for the first time since the Eagles pulled out a 80-74 win at Conte Forum back on Dec. 11, 2004. ESPN3's broadcast of the game is set to begin at 2 p.m.
