Central Conn. St. @ Boston College preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 17, 2017 ) Central Conn. St. 65, Boston College 84

Boston College will try to put together a three-game winning streak for the first time since it opened 3-0 when it hosts winless Central Connecticut on Sunday. The Eagles bounced back from a four-game slide with a one-point win at Notre Dame and then a 72-51 triumph over Albany at home Tuesday.

Junior forward Steffon Mitchell scored a season-high 15 points, hauled in 13 rebounds and tied his career high with five steals as Boston College overcame a slow start to move over .500. "When he plays with high energy, he's a guy that can impact the game in a lot of ways," coach Jim Christian told reporters of Mitchell. "I thought his defensive intensity kind of spread to everybody today. We made a ton of hustle plays, a ton of passing plays. We're getting back to being who we are." The Blue Devils have come close to breaking into the win column with back-to-back two-point losses. They are beginning a three-game road stretch that also takes them to Dartmouth and Penn State.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, No TV

ABOUT CENTRAL CONNECTICUT (0-9): The Blue Devils were ranked 343rd nationally in scoring (56.3) and 346th in field goal shooting (36.0 percent) through Friday, although they showed some life in a 40-point second half in last Saturday's 66-64 loss to Maine. Senior guard Jamir Coleman is the team's top scorer at 10.3 points per contest and he shoots a team-high 49.2 percent from the floor. Guard Greg Outlaw is next on the scoring list at 10.2 while fellow freshman Myles Baker is up to nine points per game after producing 15 off the bench against the Black Bears.

ABOUT BOSTON COLLEGE (6-5): Sophomore forward Jairus Hamilton, who missed several games earlier in the season with a leg injury, scored a season-high 16 points against Albany. Senior guard Derryck Thornton continues to lead the team with 14.4 points per game but he was held to a season-low six in the last win and is now 2-for-17 from 3-point range over his past four games. Mitchell's big night helped fill the void left by the absence of senior forward Nik Popovic, who is out indefinitely with back spasms.

TIP-INS

1. Eagles freshman G Julian Rishwain is 7-for-11 from 3-point range over a three-game stretch.

2. Blue Devils freshman F Xavier Wilson has 15 rebounds over his last two games after grabbing a total of 18 through his first seven.

3. Mitchell had 13 points and 14 rebounds in an 84-65 win in the previous meeting two seasons ago.

PREDICTION: Boston College 85, Central Connecticut 57