Popovic scores 19 as Boston College beats DePaul 65-62
CHICAGO (AP) — Nik Popovic scored 19 points and Wynston Tabbs had 15 as Boston College rallied to beat DePaul 65-62 on Saturday.
Ky Bowman added 11 points and Chris Herren Jr. had 10 for the Eagles (9-2), who have won three straight.
Max Strus scored 16 points and Eli Cain added 14 for DePaul (8-3), which led by as much as 12 and was off to its best season start since 2002-03.
Tabbs hit a jumper to get the Eagles within one with 3:04 left before DePaul responded with a Femi Olujobi jumper and a Strus dunk. Tabbs' layup cut the deficit to one with 45 seconds left after a Boston College steal. Tabbs then stole the inbound pass and was fouled on a dunk attempt. His free throws gave the Eagles their first lead at 61-60.
After Strus missed a 3, Tabbs hit both foul shots for a 63-60 lead with eight seconds remaining. Cain made two free throws on the other end before Popovic hit two foul shots to seal it.
DePaul scored two points in the final 2:12.
Both teams struggled on offense with Boston College shooting 40 percent and DePaul 36.6 percent. The Eagles made just 3 of 18 shots from beyond the arc.
DePaul outrebounded Boston College 47-40.
Bowman, who averages 19.6 points per game, had four points on 2-for-7 shooting at halftime.
The Eagles ended the first half on an 8-0 run to cut their deficit to 32-28. Boston College shot 35.1 percent from the field to DePaul's 32.5 percent.
BIG PICTURE
Boston College is bouncing back from a 100-95 loss in overtime to Providence by winning three straight.
DePaul closes out its nonconference schedule with a solid 8-3 record, including an overtime win over Penn State. Yet the schedule becomes more treacherous and the Blue Demons haven't finished a season with a winning record since 2006-07.
UP NEXT
Boston College will play its nonconference finale Dec. 31 at home against Hartford.
DePaul will open its Big East schedule Saturday against Xavier.
