The finals of the Cayman Islands Classic between Boston College and Boise State came down to the wire Tuesday, 26 Nov., at the John Gray High School gymnasium, with Boston spoiling the comeback story the Broncos had hoped for.
Boston College claimed the pre-season tournament title with a razor-thin margin of 63-61.
The final shot of the game to seal the victory came just seconds before the horn and was met by an eruption of cheers from the crowd for what was one of the most exciting finishes in the event’s history.
Earl Grant, head coach for the Boston College Eagles, told the Compass the win was a testament to all the hard work he and his players have put in, focusing on being the best version of themselves on the court and depending on the things they can control.
“When we came to the Cayman Islands, we were just focused on growth, that’s all we talked about, and I thought we got better. We grew as a team and obviously we won the championship, so it’s unbelievable,” Grant said.
Team captain Chas Kelley III echoed his coaches’ sentiments, saying that his team really deserved the win after a tough game against a determined Broncos squad.
“You just try to take things one day at a time; got a lot of guys that put in a lot of minutes … It’s good to get some hardware in November,” Kelley said, noting his team’s plan is to build on that glory heading into the NCAA basketball season.
The South Dakota State Jackrabbits finished third in the tournament after defeating the Missouri State Bears 75-55.
High Point University battled it out with Hampton for fifth place, with the Panthers taking the win by three points (76-73), while the Duquesne Dukes claimed a 67-54 victory over Old Dominion, to finish seventh.
Additional reporting from Henri Morineau.
Related Videos
