Basketball
Takeaways: BC drops ACC Opener in OT
Recap:
This past Saturday, Boston College opened up ACC play with an 84-78 loss in overtime to the NC State Wolfpack. After Claudell Harris Jr. got off to a personal 5-0 start, the Wolfpack controlled most of the first half, at one point jumping out to a 32-21 lead. The Eagles were able to claw their way back towards the end of the half, getting to within 3 points at the intermission. In the second half, NC State held BC at bay, holding a 3-6 point lead for much of the half, before BC stormed back to tie the game with just under two minutes to go. The Eagles had an opportunity to win the game at the end of regulation, but a Jaeden Zackery drive to the basket was not rewarded with a foul call, and Quinten Post was unable to secure the offensive rebound. In overtime, the Eagles briefly held the lead, but went cold in the final three minutes of the period, as the Wolfpack was able to pull away with a pair of timely shots.
Free Throw Woes:
The biggest storyline of this game was easily the Eagles’ egregious performance from the free-throw line. BC came into the contest ranked third in free-throw percentage among all division-1 teams, but posted an inexcusable 14 for 26 performance from the charity stripe on Saturday. Outside of Zackery, the rest of the team shot just 5 for 15 on foul shots. And through the first 15 minutes of the second half, BC shocked fans, shooting 2-11 from the line. But regardless of the box score, the Eagles shot themselves in the foot far too many times to expect to win an ACC game.
Troubles in Transition:
An underrated aspect of this game could be how poorly the Eagles executed in transition. NC State dominated BC in transition, outscoring the Eagles 16-7 on fast breaks. While the Eagles do not typically score much on fast breaks, they had several missed opportunities which could have turned the tide of the game. Specifically, BC had consecutive miscues in transition late in the second half while down 65-60. First, Harris Jr. missed a good look at the rim off of an excellent rebound and pass by forward Devin McGlockton. Then, the very next possession, Zackery turned the ball over while trying to make a pass in transition. As fans of the program know, the Eagles are not a team that likes to run up and down the floor every possession. Rather, they like to control the tempo of the game, only running in transition at the most opportune time. However, if the Eagles want to compete with the rest of the ACC, they cannot afford to leave points on the floor with miscues in the open court.
Dynamic Duo:
While there is plenty to be discouraged of from this game, there are several positive takeaways. For one, Zackery played a fantastic game. The veteran guard had 20 points on 13 shots, grabbed 6 rebounds, and swiped 3 steals. Zackery is the heartbeat of this team, leading the Eagles in assists, steals, and minutes. Zackery kept the Eagles afloat when it felt like they were doing everything in their power to lose this game. Another positive from the game was the second half turnaround of Quinten Post. After being held to just 3 point on 0/4 shooting in the first half, the big man stepped up when his team needed him most. Post scored 15 points in the second half, including a massive driving dunk and a clutch turnaround jumper to tie the game late.
Despite it all…
Despite all the missed free throws, all the miscues on offense, and all the questionable game management, the Eagles were still in a position to win this game. The Eagles definitely have the talent and the grit to compete in the ACC, Grant just has to refine a few key issues. The Eagles still have four extremely winnable games before reaching the meat of their ACC schedule. After the disappointing loss on Saturday, the Eagles return to Conte as heavy favorites on Tuesday when they will face Central Connecticut State. This should be a great opportunity to get back in the “Win” column. Following Tuesday, BC will face Holy Cross on Friday December 8th, Saint John’s on Sunday December 10th, and Lehigh on December 21st. These four games will be crucial in keeping postseason hopes alive, so be sure to lock in to each game.
Basketball
Boston College lands one of nation’s top rebounders in Brandon Benjamin, along with former Charleston forward Colby Duggan
Boston College received two more transfer commitments this weekend in Brandon Benjamin and Colby Duggan. Benjamin and Duggan join Money Williams, Ernest Shelton and JB Frankel as the fourth and fifth transfers to commit to Luke Murray and BC this offseason. The Eagles now have seven players on their roster, including international signing Zak Smrekar and Jack Bailey, the only BC player from last year not to enter the portal.
Benjamin, a 6-foot-8 forward from Newark, N.J., played his only collegiate season last year at Fairfield University. The rising sophomore was named to the 2025-26 MAAC All-Rookie Team and All-MAAC Second Team after averaging 14.2 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks while shooting 56.5% from the field. Benjamin ranked first in the MAAC and eighth in the country in rebounds per game and second in the country in offensive rebounds per game (4.25).
“What made me pick BC first was the coaching staff,” Benjamin told ZAGSBLOG on Sunday. “It really felt like family. I will bring my high motor, plus rebounding, finishing around the rim and taking guys off the dribble. [I also bring] my catch-and-shooting, pick-and-pop, my winning impact and my versatility with guarding 1-5 with the ability to block shots.”
Duggan, a 6-foot-7 forward from Monson, Mass., averaged 9.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 19 games for Charleston last season after missing the first part of the year with an injury. He spent the previous two seasons at Campbell University and averaged 15.7 points and 3.3 rebounds on 34% shooting from 3-point range during the 2024-25 season.
“He competes on both ends of the court at all times,” former Charleston head coach and current USF head coach Chris Mack said. “He’s a warrior. He’s a winner. Defensively, Colby doesn’t back down. He guards well in the post and on the perimeter. Offensively, he led the conference in scoring and is just scratching the surface of what he can be as a mismatch.”
Benjamin should slot into the starting lineup as the power forward or a small-ball big thanks to his impressive rebounding ability, while Duggan comes to BC as a depth piece off the bench.
Basketball
Former Merrimack sharpshooter Ernest Shelton commits to Boston College
Guard Ernest Shelton announced his commitment to Boston College early Thursday night. The former Merrimack Warrior became the fourth transfer to commit to head coach Luke Murray and the Eagles, joining Zak Smrekar, Money Williams and JB Frankel. Shelton was named to the 2025-26 All-MAAC first team while helping lead the Warriors to a MAAC regular-season championship.
Shelton played two seasons at Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania, on the opposite side of the state from his hometown of Philadelphia, before transferring to Merrimack last offseason. The 6-foot-5 guard averaged 15.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals while shooting 34.6% from behind the 3-point line.
“[Shelton]’s a shooter,” Merrimack head coach Joe Gallo said. “Every time it comes out of his hand, you think it’s going in.”
Shelton knocked down 99 3-pointers for Merrimack last season and was among the top 40 in the country in 3-pointers made per game (2.9). He set a career high last season with nine 3-pointers in a game against Boston University and made five or more 3-pointers in six games.
The sharpshooter is a breath of fresh air for a Boston College program that finished last in the ACC in 3-point percentage last season.
Basketball
Boston College lands Zak Smrekar, Money Williams, and JB Frankel, first three transfer commitments of Luke Murray era
Boston College received its first three transfer commitments of the 2026 transfer portal cycle on Thursday in Zak Smrekar, Money Williams, and JB Frankel. Smrekar, Williams, and Frankel are the first three players to commit to BC since Luke Murray was named head coach on March 26 and join Jack Bailey as the only three players currently on the Eagles’ roster.
Smrekar is a 19-year-old, 6-foot-7 guard from Slovenia and was the first to commit to Murray. He played for the club Krka Novo Mesto in the Slovenian ABA for three seasons and averaged 9.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 15 games in the 2025-26 season. Smrekar also played for Slovenia in the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup and averaged 16.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists in seven games.
Williams is a 20-year-old, 6-foot-4 guard who played the last three seasons for Montana. The Oakland, California, native was named to the 2025-26 All-Big Sky First Team after averaging 20.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game on 49.8% shooting from the field. Williams scored a career-high 40 points against Northern Colorado in the Big Sky Tournament, along with tallying six other 30-point games last season.
“I can’t come up with enough words to praise Money Williams properly,” Montana head coach Travis DeCuire said in October 2025. “When you talk about the young man that he is off the court, the young man he is when you bring him in the office, and you have real conversations with him and look him in the eye and talk about things that are hard to talk about.”
Frankel is a 21-year-old, 6-foot-3 guard who is not moving far, as he played the last three years at Northeastern. He started 13 of 30 games for the Huskies last season and averaged 5.9 points, 2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. The New York City native scored a season-high 13 points in a road win against Harvard.
Coach Murray will have to continue to build up the Eagles roster, but with three guards being picked up, look for the Eagles to hone in on finding their starting forwards and big men.
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