Feb. 4, 2001

Box Score

By HOWARD ULMAN
AP Sports Writer

BOSTON (AP) - Troy Bell scored 22 points as No. 20 Boston College extended its best start in 34 years with an 89-74 win over Villanova Sunday.

Ryan Sidney came off the bench to spark an 11-0 first-half run that made the score 32-17 with 8:56 left, and BC's lead ranged from 12-18 points the rest of the way. Sidney had three steals and two baskets in the span.

The Eagles (16-2, 7-1 Big East) are off to their best start since 1966-67, when they were 23-2 under coach Bob Cousy before losing their last game.

BC beat the Wildcats for the second time in eight days, following a 90-80 road win in which Bell had 28 points.

They face a tougher challenge in their next game Wednesday when they are home against 12th-ranked Syracuse.

Villanova (12-8, 4-5) lost for the sixth time in eight games despite 26 points and 11 rebounds from junior center Michael Bradley and 17 points by Ricky Wright.

Bradley had made a verbal commitment to BC before attending Kentucky, then transferring to Villanova. His switch from BC came in the midst of an admissions controversy involving other recruits that resulted in coach Jim O'Brien leaving for Ohio State.

For Boston College, Kenny Walls scored 16 points, one more than his season high, Kenny Harley had 13 and Sidney added 12.

But it was Sidney's defense that gave control to Boston College, which leads the Big East in turnover ratio.

His steal and layup with 11:58 left in the first half made the score 23-17 and began the 11-point run. Jonathan Beerbohm then hit a 3-pointer and Uka Agbai followed with two free throws, increasing the lead to 28-17 with 9:39 remaining.

Sidney then stole the ball again and scored on a dunk, and his next steal led to a layup by Bell that made it 32-17.

A free throw by Wright ended Villanova's drought 7:59 before intermission. After Sidney's next basket, Aaron Matthews scored on a layup with 7:20 left in the half on the Wildcats' first shot in 4:58.

Bell had his streak of no turnovers ended at 101 minutes, 46 seconds when he committed one 5:27 into the first half.

Villanova's Gary Buchanan kept his streak of successful free throws intact. He made two and now has 63 in a row, one less than the NCAA Division I record held by Joe Dykstra of Western Illinois.