Steve Donahue and his Boston College Eagles (5-7) host the No. 23/24 Harvard Crimson (10-1) after an eight-day break in a battle for Commonwealth supremacy at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday night at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, MA (Radio: WEEI 93.7 FM/850 AM).
This is a big one, for many reasons. First, it's one of the best college basketball matchups in the state of Massachusetts. Secondly, this game is important to both teams. For BC, this is a chance to put itself to the test and prove the team has really experience growth. For Harvard, it's a chance to confirm it's supremacy in the state.
Boston College and Harvard have met 45 times in a series that dates back to the 1905-06 season. In the last meeting between the two schools, Harvard posted a 78-69 win over Boston College on January 5, 2011. BC as won six of the last ten meetings with Harvard, but the Crimson have won the last three in a row at Conte Forum.
BC is on a roll having won its last three games against the Stony Brook Seawolves, the Bryant Bulldogs and the Sacred Heart Pioneers. In its most recent victory, the Eagles posted an 83-73 win over Sacred Heart on Dec. 21. Matt Humphrey had 18 points and Dennis Clifford chipped in with 16 points and six rebounds. BC shot 55.3 percent.
Harvard is also on a hot streak, with the Crimson winning nine of their first 10 games and two games in a row after losing to No. 9 UConn. The Crimson defeated the Florida Atlantic Owls, 63-51, in their last game on Dec. 22. Keith Wright scored 12 points and collected 11 rebounds and Brandyn Curry had 12 points and seven rebounds for Harvard, which made 21-of-38 field goals to shoot 55.3 percent.
BC hosts the Rhode Island Rams on Jan. 2 while Harvard hosts St. Joseph's on Dec. 31.
For more BC Basketball coverage, visit our team page and blog, BC Interruption.