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Clemson looks to get back on track against Boston College

Jan 20, 2007 - 2:21 PM Boston College (13-4) at No. 16 Clemson (17-2) 12:00 pm EST

CLEMSON, South Carolina (Ticker) -- Clemson is reeling after a second straight loss. Fortunately for the Tigers, their next opponent is a bit more unsettled.

K.C. Rivers and the No. 16 Tigers look to get back on track when they host Boston College in an Atlantic Coast Conference contest on Saturday.

Clemson (17-2, 3-2 ACC) was one of the biggest surprises of the season as its outlasted such national powers as UCLA and North Carolina to be the lone remaining unbeaten team in Division I with a 17-0 start.

Tying for the best start in school history, the Tigers had their chance at history denied with a 92-87 loss at Maryland on January 13. The season's first loss grew into a second when they were outclassed by the fourth-ranked Tar Heels on Wednesday, 77-55.

Although Clemson is in a bit of a downward spiral, it is nowhere near as bad as the shape that Boston College (13-4, 5-0) is in after its dismissed two players from the team on Wednesday for violations of team rules.

One of those players was center Sean Williams, who had the ability to dominate a game on the defensive end, averaging an ACC-leading 5.0 blocks in 15 games. He also averaged 12.1 points for the Eagles, good for fourth-best on the team.

The 6-10 junior had 10 points, six rebounds and three blocks as Boston College collected its sixth straight win on Tuesday, an 82-63 home victory over Miami.

Freshman Shamari Spears, who has averaged 8.4 points and 6.3 rebounds mainly as a reserve, is expected to fill Williams' hole in the starting lineup.

The Eagles, who dropped their only previous meeting here in 2003, still have forward Jared Dudley to lean on. The senior is the league's leader in scoring with 19.1 points and rebounding with 9.1 boards.

Rivers, who mustered only four points in Clemson's setback against UNC, leads the Tigers in scoring with 14.6 points.

He is one of four players who average double figures for the Tigers, including junior forward James Mays.

Clemson is 29-2 when Mays, who has averaged 16.6 points and 7.0 rebounds in the previous five games, is in the lineup.

The Tigers lead the all-time series at 3-2. The Eagles won last season's meeting, 67-61, at home last February.