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BOSTON (AP) -- Craig Smith scored 16 of his 19 points over the final 11:48, lifting Boston College to a 80-74 win over Boston University on Saturday night.
Sean Marshall also scored 19 points for Boston College (7-0), and Jared Dudley had 17 points and seven rebounds. The Eagles are off to their best start since opening the 2001-02 season with nine wins.
Kevin Gardner scored a career-high 20 points for Boston University (5-2). Rashad Bell also had 20 points and Chaz Carr added 18 for the Terriers, who had a five-game win streak snapped. Boston College has won the last eight meetings between the schools, located a few miles apart.
After BU took a 51-50 lead on Gardner's jumper with 12:37 to play, Dudley hit a layup to give BC the lead for good. Smith then took over inside, scoring 15 of BC's next 19 points. He started the spree by converting a three-point play on his first basket of the game, coming with 11:48 left in the contest.
After Dudley's basket made it 57-53, Smith had 10 of the Eagles' next 12 points, all inside, moving BC in front 71-61 with 4:52 to play.
The Terriers mounted a late flurry, narrowing it to 78-74 in the closing seconds. But Steve Hailey's two free throws sealed it for BC.
BC guard Louis Hinnant missed the game with a left ankle injury
