Looking for its third consecutive win, Boston College begins a three-game stay at the Cayman Islands Classic Sunday against Old Dominion in George Town, Grand Caymans.
The Eagles (3-1) were 82-61 winners over Loyola (Md.) on Tuesday, marking their second straight victory since an 80-55 loss Nov. 8 against VCU. That defeat came in the Veterans Classic in Annapolis, Md., and was Boston College’s only game away from home so far this season.
“It’s a weird team because you always want to coach to win, but with so many new guys, I also have to coach to develop,” Boston College coach Earl Grant said. “We cleaned some stuff up, and we’re starting to find a little bit better rhythm.”
Five Eagles players scored in double digits against Loyola. St. Bonaventure transfer Chad Venning led the way with 17 points, and Donald Hand Jr. scored 15 — all in the second half — and added 14 rebounds for his second double-double of the season.
Transfers Roger McFarlane (Southeastern Louisiana) and Dion Brown (UMBC) also contributed to that group. Sophomore Fred Payne, who played just five games last season before a knee injury, chipped in 10 points.
“I could tell (Payne) was chomping at the bit to get in the game by the way he practiced,” Grant said. “It was just a matter of time for Fred to get his opportunity.”
Old Dominion (2-3) has won back-to-back games under first-year coach Mike Jones, including a 71-55 home victory Tuesday over Division III Randolph-Macon.
The Monarchs’ 0-3 start included losses to Buffalo, then-No. 10 Arizona and Radford, preceding their 73-71 win against Maryland Eastern Shore on Nov. 15.
Against Randolph-Macon, Siena transfer Sean Durugordon led the Monarchs with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds. He helped to put the game out of reach with an 8-0 run in just over a minute in the second half.
“Talk about being efficient,” Jones said. “He’s growing into and still learning how to play with other really good players.”
Durugordon is the team’s third-leading scorer with 12.8 points per game. Devin Ceaser has averaged a team-high 15.2 off the bench, while Robert Davis Jr. leads the way among regulars at 40.5 percent from 3-point range, amassing 14.3 points per contest.
“One of the things I’m so proud of is that (Durugordon told) me this is the first time he’s played on a team with other guys who can really score, so he doesn’t feel the burden,” Jones said.
