Jan 6, 2004

Box Score

By JOSEPH WHITE
AP Sports Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Craig Smith scored 19 of his 24 points in the final 10 minutes, dominating down the stretch to lead Boston College to a 72-64 victory over Georgetown on Tuesday.

Smith finished 10-for-13 from the field and grabbed 12 rebounds as Boston College (11-2, 1-0) overcame a seven-point second-half deficit in its Big East opener.

Darrel Owens scored 20 points to lead Georgetown (10-1, 1-1), which had an off night from leading scorer Gerald Riley. Riley made just 2 of 13 shots to finish with nine points, failing to score in double figures for the second straight game.

Boston College won at Georgetown for the first time since 1996, having gone 0-2 at the MCI Center since the arena opened in 1997.

After a quiet first half - three points on 1-for-4 shooting - Smith took over the game in the paint. His power baseline move for a dunk that tied the score at 53 with 4:46 remaining.

Coach Al Skinner rested Smith for one-half of a possession. When he re-entered, Smith gave his team its first lead of the second half with a baseline drive for a layup. Jared Dudley made it a five-point lead with a 3-pointer, and Smith added two free throws after being fouled on a rebound to put BC ahead 62-55 with 2:07 to play.

Riley missed his first seven shots, and the Hoyas missed 20 of their first 26. They stayed in the game with 12 offensive rebounds to lead 27-26 at the break.

Smith wasn't doing much better, but he had seven rebounds and a pair each of blocks and steals in the first half. Sean Marshall, one of three BC freshman to see extensive playing time, hit a pair of 3-pointers and had 10 points in the half.

Marshall finished with 15 points, and Uka Agbai had 17 for the Eagles.