December 11, 2008
Boston College, Bryant come away happy
By PAUL KENYON
Journal Sports Writer
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Even before the game began, it was obvious last night was an unusual night for Al Skinner and Tim O'Shea.
Here it was, less than five minutes before the start of the first Boston College-Bryant University basketball game at Conte Forum, and there were the two coaches talking and laughing with each other. The two stood near the Bryant bench and chatted for an extended period, like old friends.
For O'Shea, the Bryant coach, that's not a surprise. He will talk with anyone at any time. For Skinner, it was out of character. The BC coach is quiet - never more than before a game. On this night, though, the change was understandable. Skinner really was talking to an old friend.
He and O'Shea coached together for 13 years, nine at the University of Rhode Island and four at BC. Even on a night when they were preparing to go against each other, they did not forget their friendship.
BC (7-2) did what was expected, beating the Bulldogs, 80-61. But Bryant acquitted itself well. The Bulldogs fell behind by as many as 33 points early in the second half, then fought back behind the scoring of Cecil Gresham (19 points) and got as close as 65-54 with 6:33 left.
"They made me do something different than I wanted to," said Skinner, who had to play his regulars longer than he wanted because of Bryant's comeback. "They didn't quit. That's the most important thing you want from a team. When a coach can get that from his guys, then he's doing a creditable job."
Read Paul Kenyon's complete article in the Providence Journal
