Carter, Robinson carry BC past Central Conn. 82-57

Nov 20, 2015 - 1:59 AM BOSTON (AP) Boston College freshman Jerome Robinson realized quickly how tough things could be if it didn't step up his play in what coach Jim Christian called a ''secret scrimmage'' during the preseason.

The 6-foot-5 guard seems like he's a fast learner.

Robinson had his second impressive game, scoring 15 points to help the Eagles beat Central Connecticut State 82-57 Thursday night.

''That first scrimmage, everything was going so fast in the first five minutes,'' Robinson said. ''Now everything is kind of slowing down for me.''

He agreed that his first collegiate game - albeit a scrimmage - was ''humbling.''

In a season-opening win over St. Francis Brooklyn, Robinson scored 19 points with six rebounds and five assists.

Graduate transfer Eli Carter overcame a rough start to lead the Eagles with 18 points.

Seven-footer Dennis Clifford had nine rebounds and nine points for Boston College (2-0). The Eagles have won their first two games since Al Skinner's 2009-10 team started 2-0 before finished 15-16.

''I think we've gotten better every time we've stepped on the floor in certain areas,'' Christian said. ''From the first time we stepped on the floor in our secret scrimmage to today, we've improved in a lot of different areas and players have improved.''

Matt Milon scored 11 points for the Eagles, who were 13-of-28 on 3-point attempts, hitting 8-of-16 in the opening half.

JJ Cratit led Central Connecticut (0-3) with 20 points.

''They're bigger, they're stronger, they're quicker, and they shoot the ball better than we do,'' Central Connecticut coach Howie Dickenman said. ''We were, quite frankly, overmatched.''

The Eagles took charge with an 18-3 run over a 4 1/2 stretch late in the first half.

BC broke a tie and took the lead for good, 25-22, when Ervins Meznieks nailed a 3-pointer from the left corner to trigger the key spurt. Milon hit three shots from beyond the arc, the first two coming under a minute apart.

Cratit kept the Blue Devils close in the opening 15 minutes of the game, scoring 12 of his 15 first-half points during that span.

The Eagles led 45-33 at intermission.

In the second half, the Blue Devils cut their deficit to single digits in the initial 2 1/2 minutes, but BC was never tested the rest of the way.

BC opened a 33-point lead in the closing minute.

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TIP-INS

Central Connecticut: F Tidell Pierre limped off favoring his left ankle with just under 6 minutes left in the first half.

Boston College: Carter, who led the Eagles in scoring in the season opener, missed all seven of his shots from the floor in the first half, and had just two free throws. . Clifford cut his right hand, but after being attended to briefly by the trainer he stayed in the game.

PLAY THAT TUNE

Christian walked into the postgame press conference and had to talk over the band practicing `Sweet Caroline' in the background for the school's football matchup against No. 5 Notre Dame at Fenway Park on Saturday night.

''I can sing it,'' he joked.

NEEDS SOME HELP

Christian pulled a microphone toward Robinson and joked ''first time, you've got to talk into this.''

UP NEXT

Central Connecticut: Hosts Binghamton on Tuesday.

Boston College: Hosts Harvard on Sunday.