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BOX SCORE
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. (AP) -- Boston College coach Al Skinner scheduled nine
soft games to start out the season to help boost his team's
confidence going into the big matchup against Connecticut.
He won't have to worry about the Eagles' egos now.
Troy Bell scored 27 points and Xavier Singletary had 23 on
Wednesday night as BC beat the 10th-ranked Huskies 85-68 and
snapped a 23-game losing streak against their Big East rivals.
|  | | Troy Bell, center gets congratulated by his BC teammates. He had 27 points in the Eagles' first win over UConn since 1988. |
"It's a big confidence booster, even though our confidence is
sky-high right now," Singletary said. "I felt we would win this
game, but to other people it shows we're a pretty good team."
UConn's dominance over BC (10-0, 1-0 Big East) matched the
longest winning streak for one Big East team against another in
league history. Syracuse beat Seton Hall 23 consecutive times from
1982-92.
"At least that part you can put to rest," said Skinner, who is
only responsible for the last five losses in a streak that dates to
BC's last victory on Feb. 23, 1988. "But we still have a long way
to go to catch up. We're not even close to the talent that they
have."
Boston College is off to its best start since winning 10
straight to open its Sweet 16 season of 1984-85. Students stormed
the court after the game to celebrate the Eagles' first victory
over a ranked opponent in two years.
"That hurt, when teams rush the floor against you," UConn
guard Tony Robertson said. "We really understand now (what the
streak means). We've got a target on us."
Freshman Caron Butler had a career-high 29 points and 13
rebounds for UConn (11-2, 0-1), which had won 10 in a row since
losing to Dayton in the opening round of the Maui Invitational. The
Huskies had 22 turnovers and shot only 37 percent in the second
half.
"Their purpose was to beat Connecticut tonight and our purpose
was to play. That just isn't how the game works," coach Jim
Calhoun said. "I have a great admiration for how they played. I'm
a BC fan tonight."
UConn took a 48-47 lead on Johnnie Selvie's three-point play
with 14:01 to play. But it didn't make another field goal for 7:35
as the Eagles ran off 23 of the next 28 points to take a 70-53
lead.
Bell had seven points during the run, including two free throws
after the UConn bench was called for a technical foul for
complaining about a jump ball the Huskies thought should be a foul.
Singletary had eight points in the run, hitting a pair of
3-pointers -- the second giving BC a 68-52 lead with 7:29 left.
Although classes at Boston College haven't resumed after the
Christmas break, Conte Forum saw its first sellout of the season.
The crowd of 8,606 serenaded the Huskies with chants of
"Overrated! Overrated!"
"The seniors were a little bit hungry about it because this was
going to be their last time to get them here," Skinner said. "I
really felt that they thought it would be their best shot. So I'm
very happy for them."
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ALSO SEE
Men's College Basketball Scoreboard
Connecticut Clubhouse
Boston College Clubhouse
Two BC players charged with assault in bar fight after game
Deng's transfer from UConn to Fairfield complete
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Xavier Singletary drives the nail in UConn's coffin with a big 3-pointer.
avi: 961 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Caron Butler was one of the few bright spots for UConn, hitting a difficult shot for 2 of his 29 points.
avi: 1030 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Troy Bell makes an acrobatic move for a Boston College basket.
avi: 642 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
B.C.'s Jonathan Beerbohm takes it all the way for the slam.
avi: 619 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
The Eagles' Xavier Singletary finds Ryan Sidney open for a dunk.
avi: 501 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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