Patrick Heckmann and the Boston College Eagles host the UMass Minutemen in the annual Commonwealth Classic at 7:00 p.m. EDT on Monday night at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, MA (Radio: WEEI 93.7 FM/850 AM).
BC owns a 26-18 advantage in the all-time series with UMass, which dates back the the 1905-06 season. BC defeated UMass in the last meeting one year ago, with the Eagles handing the Minutemen their first loss of the 2010 season with a 76-71 win at the Boston Tip-Off Classic at TD Garden. In the win, Reggie Jackson and Joe Trapani scored 17 points and Josh Southern had 16 points and seven rebounds. Anthony Gurley scored a game-high 22 points for UMass.
The Eagles (1-1) have had an up-and-down start to the new season, winning their opener against the New Hampshire Wildcats, 67-64, last Monday at Conte Forum. Heckmann led all Eagles scorers with 19 points and had eight rebounds in his collegiate debut. However, BC was blown out by the Holy Cross Crusaders, 86-64, on Friday night.
Heckmann was absent for the game, as he was day-to-day with a left ankle injury suffered in the win over UNH. However, it appears that Heckmann will return to action on Monday night against the Minutemen.
UMass (3-0) is off to another hot start this season, with the Minutemen besting Elon (85-67), Northeastern (83-57) and most recently NJIT (79-58). Chaz Williams, a sophomore guard, has come on strong in his first season with the team and is averaging 17.7 points while shooting 50 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from three-point range. Williams, who also averages nine assists per contest, had 15 points and nine assists in the win over the Highlanders.
BC travels to face the Saint Louis Billikens in the opening round of the 76 Classic this Thursday while UMass will take on the Florida St. Seminoles in the Battle 4 Atlantis on Thursday.
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