Dom Amore: ‘They can feel it through the TV’: How Central Connecticut authored an upset over BC
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By Declan Walsh, Staff Writer Updated Nov 12, 2025 8:23 a.m.
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Darin Smith Jr. of the Central Connecticut State Blue is introduced before a game at Providence in November 2024. Smith converted a
layup in the final seconds to lead CCSU to a 60-59 win over Boston College on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025.
Mitchell Layton/Getty Images
Heading into Tuesday evening's matchup with Boston College, Melo Sanchez had made one career shot against a Division I opponent, arriving at Central Connecticut State this offseason after logging just two total minutes at Arkansas.
But as coach Patrick Sellers looked down his bench with his Blue Devils facing another early deficit, Sanchez proved his scoring chops emphatically, knocking down five 3- pointers and pacing a group of Central Connecticut substitutes that made up more than half of CCSU's scoring.
The Blue Devils' familiar cast stepped up down the stretch, with star sophomore Darin Smith Jr. converting a go-ahead layup over two Eagles defenders inside the final three seconds, and Central Connecticut pulled off a 60-59 stunner over ACC member Boston College.
"We don't have the NIL, we don't have the cost of attendance, we don't have that," Sellers told CTInsider. "We're a bunch of good guys, we play a good brand of basketball, we're blue collar and we what you see is what you get. So beating a Power (conference) team really helps that, that's so important for us."
It's the school's first-ever victory over Boston College and its first win over a power conference opponent since moving to Division I in 1986-87. The Blue Devils did beat Big East member Providence 54-50 in December 2000.
Without its top six minutes leaders from a season ago, Central Connecticut State looked set to take a step back from last year's 25-win watermark, suffering a 24-point thumping against in-state rivals Quinnipiac and falling behind 8-0 after hardly two minutes against the Eagles. Sellers promptly called a timeout and re-centered his program's defensive focus, holding Boston College to 33 percent shooting and 7-of-34 from beyond the arc as his Blue Devils slowly chipped away.
"We wanted to pack the paint. We wanted to keep the ball outside their arc and be heavy in the gaps so they can't just get inside the paint," Sellers said. "If we stay in the gaps, the ball's gonna stay on the perimeter, and we didn't think they were a great perimeter shooting team."
The Blue Devils' reserves played a key role in the comeback, with Elijah Parker poking away five steals while Nico Ashley grabbed six rebounds in just eight minutes off the bench. Central Connecticut was particularly resolute down the stretch, allowing just four total field goals after the under-12 media timeout as the Blue Devils erased a 10-point second- half deficit and took their first lead of the game with 6:45 to play, thanks to a Max Rodgers steal and slam.
Sellers' squad saw its upset bid take a major hit in the final minute, failing to convert three attempts at the rim before ultimately ceding possession back to the Eagles with a one- point deficit. But the Blue Devils forced BC to settle for yet another long-range attempt and corralled the rebound, allowing just enough time for Smith to drive downhill and convert his game-winning layup.
Nov 11, 2025 | Updated Nov 12, 2025 8:23 a.m.
Declan Walsh
Trending Reporter/Audience Producer
Declan Walsh is a Trending Reporter and Audience Producer at Hearst Connecticut, focusing on trending topics, lifestyle and sports.
Originally from New Jersey, Declan studied Journalism-Sports Media at the University of Florida. He previously covered women's basketball at NCAA.com and made stops at Sports Illustrated, FOX Sports, and the Palm Beach Post