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BOSTON (AP) — Boston College guard Eli Carter is starting to look real comfortable playing the point.
Carter, a 6-foot-2 graduate transfer from Florida, scored 20 points with 10 assists and eight rebounds to lead Boston College to a 69-61 win over Delaware on Saturday night.
"It's ridiculous. The last couple of games he's starting to figure it out," Eagles coach Jim Christian said. "There was a stretch in the first half I didn't think he played very well. The other 35 minutes — eight rebounds, seven defensive rebounds. Nineteen assists in the past two games and I think he's only had two turnovers. He's attacking more and making plays for others."
Matt Milon scored nine of his 12 points in the final 10:30 for the Eagles. Dennis Clifford had 10 rebounds and eight points. It was the second straight win for Boston College (5-6) after snapping a six-game losing streak.
Carter knew this new role would take some work.
"I've been working on it tremendously," he said. "The coaches help with that a lot, getting other people involved."
Kory Holden led the Blue Hens (5-4) with 35 points. Cazmon Hayes had 17 with eight rebounds. The pair combined for all of Delaware's 35 first-half points.
"You can't have two guys basically carry you," Blue Hens coach Monte Ross said. "We didn't have good enough play from other different guys that we needed to in a game like this. You expect in the second half other guys will contribute."
Leading by one early in the second half, the Eagles scored 10 of the next 12 points. Milon hit a 3-pointer from the left wing, then converted a three-point play to grab a 51-42 lead.
The Blue Hens sliced their deficit to five before Carter and Milon hits 3s 56 seconds apart, giving BC its first double-digit lead of the game with 5:30 to play.
Delaware never got closer than six points the rest of the way.
Holden (22) and Hayes (13) combined for all 35 of Delaware's points in the first half. The Blue Hens, who trailed by nine 6:30 into the game, used a late 14-2 run to take a three-point edge into intermission.
Boston College center Dennis Clifford left the court for medical attention when he was cut above the left eye after getting hit with an inadvertent elbow midway into the opening half. The officials reviewed the play and no flagrant foul was called.
Clifford returned for the second half after getting the cut closed and bandaged. He scored baskets on their first two possessions.
GLAD YOU'RE BACK
The Eagles struggled at the end of the first half with Clifford gone, but Carter and Christian felt like his return was the key.
"It's huge for us, man," Christian said. "Dennis is huge. He got 10 defensive rebounds in a half (of action)."
THAT'S THE LOOK THEY LIKE
Christian said Milon and freshman F Ervins Meznieks play best against a team playing zone.
"Those guys are really good zone players, both of them," Christian said. "They need to play with a little more confidence."
TIP-INS
Delaware: Dropped the 22nd in the last 23 games against Atlantic Coast Conference teams. The Blue Hens played the third of six straight away from home. Their next home game is January 2 when they host James Madison.
Boston College: The Eagles had a season-high 24 assists in their last game, a 31-point win over Maine last Sunday. They collected 19 Saturday. . Seven-footer Clifford missed a 3-point shot early in the game. Christian wasn't happy and yelled "We're settling for 3s!" Clifford is 0-for-6 from beyond the arc. A.J. Turner hit all three of his 3-point shots in the opening 4:30.
UP NEXT
Delaware: At No. 12 Villanova on Tuesday.
Boston College: Plays Fordham on Tuesday in Brooklyn, New York.
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