Reggie Johnson scored 12 of his 15 points in the second half to help Miami hold off a Boston College charge in a 73-64 win Wednesday night, sweeping the season series.
The Hurricanes (17-11, 5-8 Atlantic Coast Conference) led by as many as 22 points in the first half. They were up by 18 before Reggie Jackson and Joe Trapani led a pair of Eagles comebacks to get within six points on three occasions, the last time with 22.7 seconds left.
Johnson converted back-to-back three-point plays when BC (16-11, 6-7), which got as close as five points, at 61-56 with 3:38 left, made its first run. He hit two more baskets and two free throws later in the half.
Malcolm Grant added 15 points for Miami, including a bomb with 3 minutes left.
For the Eagles, Trapani scored 13 of his 16 points in the second half, and Jackson had 13 of his 15 after the break. Trapani also had 11 rebounds.
The loss deals a serious blow to BC's chances for an NCAA Tournament bid. Considered to be firmly on the bubble coming in, the Eagles needed to at least win their two remaining home games in their to avoid having to go deep into the ACC tournament to reach the NCAA's in coach Steve Donahue's first year.
The Eagles took almost five minutes to hit their first field goal but trailed only 12-10 before Miami went on a 22-2 run to blow the game open.
BC shot 30 percent from the floor in the half, and were a woeful 1-for-9 from 3-point range. The Eagles turned the ball over eight times and were outrebounded, 21-10.
The first time the teams played, a 72-71 Miami win on Jan. 15, the Hurricanes also outrebounded the Eagles, but only by a 37-32 margin.
