Boston ? A shot-blocker by trade, Sean Williams also can do a little damage on offense.
The Boston College center had 10 points and 11 rebounds to go with his seven blocked shots on Sunday, and Jared Dudley had 20 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Eagles to a 73-62 victory over No. 23 Maryland in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams.
“Sean played well. Numbers don’t lie,” Dudley said. “What he can do, nobody else in the country can do.”
Williams is considered one of the nation’s best at blocking shots, averaging six per game.
But BC (6-2, 1-0) got a big boost from his offensive smarts as he scored the Eagles’ only four points during a 4:44 minute span when Maryland (9-2, 0-1) cut a 10-point deficit to 58-55.
The last two points came on two free throws with 6:45 left when he was fouled with his back to the basket and the shot clock running out.
“He absorbed the contact, got up in the air and delivered the ball. At that point in the game, that was a big-time play,” BC coach Al Skinner said. “That was a big-time move down the stretch when we needed two points. I don’t know if it gets better than that.”
Williams said he didn’t remember the play, but he had a better memory of a series where he blocked two shots in five seconds, grabbing the rebound on the second one to keep Maryland from getting within six.
“They were attacking the basket pretty hard,” he said.
And he was in their way all game long.
“Some people say he may be the best shot-blocker in the country. He’s got great timing,” Maryland coach Gary Williams said.
“You’ve got to get him in foul trouble. You’ve got to go right after him.”
