Chestnut Hill, MA—-Boston College earned its second ACC victory of the season Wednesday night, holding off Pittsburgh for a 65–62 win in a tightly contested conference matchup.
The Eagles set the tone early, carrying confidence from their recent win over Syracuse. Boden Kapke sparked BC out of the gate, scoring nine of the team’s first 13 points as the Eagles looked determined to seize control. Boston College’s defense also made an early impact, forcing turnovers and contesting shots along the perimeter. Pittsburgh struggled to find offensive rhythm, and BC built an eight-point cushion midway through the first half.
After a series of timeouts and adjustments, the Panthers responded with an 8–1 run to cut into the deficit. Boston College answered with timely defensive stops to regain momentum and took a 28–22 lead into halftime.
The second half opened poorly for the Eagles, as Pittsburgh rattled off seven unanswered points to take a 29–28 lead. What followed was a back-and-forth battle, featuring four lead changes in the first five-and-a-half minutes after the break. Pitt briefly appeared to gain control behind consecutive baskets from Brandin Cummings and Cameron Corhen, extending its lead to 41–36 with just over 14 minutes remaining.
That stretch echoed earlier season struggles for BC, but this time the Eagles refused to fade. Fred Payne knocked down two critical three-pointers, while Kapke continued to assert himself inside, keeping Boston College within striking distance. Each time Pittsburgh threatened to pull away, the Eagles responded.
Neither team led by more than four points over the final eight minutes. BC leaned heavily on Payne down the stretch, as his shot-making steadied the offense in crucial moments. Chase Forte delivered on the defensive end, and with 22 seconds remaining, Kapke delivered the decisive moment—burying a go-ahead three-pointer that sent the Eagles ahead for good.
Pittsburgh had one final opportunity after a late turnover nearly cost Boston College the game, but the Panthers missed a potential game-tying three at the buzzer, sealing the Eagles’ victory.
Kapke led Boston College with a career-high 19 points and five rebounds on 8-of-13 shooting. Payne added 18 points, including three three-pointers, while Donald Hand Jr. chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds.
The win moves Boston College to 2–4 in ACC play and 9–10 overall. The Eagles will look to build on the momentum when they travel to Notre Dame on Saturday, January 24. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
