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Boston College looks to improve to 2-0 as Vermont visits

Nov 13, 2006 - 4:01 PM Vermont (1-1) at No. 15 Boston College (1-0) 7:00 pm EST

CHESTNUT HILL, Massachusetts (Ticker) -- The post-Craig Smith era got off to a good start for Boston College.

The 15th-ranked Eagles look to open the season with a second straight win Monday when they host Vermont.

Shamari Spears scored 23 points in his collegiate debut Saturday as Boston College recorded an 86-47 triumph over New Hampshire. The freshman forward made 8-of-10 shots from the floor and pulled down six rebounds.

The Eagles would love to see Spears fill even part of the void that Smith left when he landed in the NBA last summer. Smith, the school's all-time leading rebounder and second-leading scorer, averaged 17.6 points and 9.4 rebounds in 2005-06.

Jared Dudley scored 19 points in the season opener and Sean Marshall added 13 for Boston College, which shot nearly 58 percent (30-of-52) and held a 45-20 advantage on the boards.

Vermont opened its slate Tuesday with an 82-66 victory against New Orleans. But things did not go as well the following night against Maryland, which coasted to an 81-63 win over the Catamounts.

Mike Trimboli (13 points per game) and Joe Trapani (12) are Vermont's only two players averaging double figures this season.