Ryan Anderson scored 25 points to lead the Boston College Eagles, but their upset bid fell short as the the No. 16/17 ranked Baylor Bears picked up a 84-74 victory Thursday in the opening round of the 2012 Charleston Classic.
Anderson has now scored 25 or more points in both of Boston College's games this year. Olivier Hanlan scored 14 and grabbed six rebounds, Andrew Van Nest added seven points off the bench and Lonnie Jackson scored eight.
Pierre Jackson led all scorers with 29 points for Baylor. Isaiah Austin finished with 16 points and both Brady Heslip and A.J. Walton scored 10 for the Bears.
Anderson scored the Eagles' first 10 points and the game would feature three ties in the first seven minutes before the Bears went on an 11-5 run to go up 28-19, but a pair of buckets from Van Nest and a three from Hanlan brought the game within two. An Anderson dunk followed by a Danny Rubin three gave BC a 31-30 edge with 4:48 to play. A 7-2 Eagles run after the timeout put the Eagles on top 38-32, but Baylor would close out the half on a 9-5 run. Anderson's buzzer-beating three from halfcourt gave the Eagles a 43-41 lead at halftime.
Five straight points from Hanlan, a two from Dennis Clifford and two Anderson free throws allowed BC to cling to a 52-47 lead with 15:57 to go, but the Bears would ride Austin and Jackson for a 10-0 run that opened up a 57-52 advantage at the 13:45 mark. Boston College came back to take a 58-57 lead thanks to back-to-back threes from Hanlan and Lonnie Jackson at 12:37, but that would be the last time they would lead, as Baylor was able to distance itself over the final ten minutes to earn its third straight win. BC is now 1-1 overall.
Boston College will face Dayton in the consolation round of the Charleston Classic while Baylor advances to face Colorado in the second round Friday.
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