D.J. Irving and the Terriers fell to American Wednesday night. Credit: Getty Images
Boston University was the No. 1 seed in the Patriot League tournament in name only. American should have been the favorite in the conference tournament all along it appears, as they not only slammed the Terriers, 86-56, back on Jan. 22. but they coasted to a 55-36 victory Wednesday night at Agganis Arena to earn an NCAA tournament berth.
Despite an overwhelmingly positive season, in which BU posted a sparkling 24-10 record, the Terriers will watch the Big Dance from their couches on Commonwealth Avenue.
“We settled too much in the beginning,” Terriers big man Dom Morris said. “When your shots aren’t falling, it’s just hard mentally on a team.”
Indeed, BU was ice-cold from the floor, posting a 30.8 field goal percentage and having gone an abysmal 1-for-17 from 3-point territory. Morris was the most productive BU player on the night, popping in 10 points and grabbing eight boards. Maurice Watson Jr. recorded a team-high 11 points.
American earned its first trip to the NCAA tournament since 2009 with the victory.
