Without Rice, BC wins opener

BOSTON (AP) — Rakim Sanders scored a career-high 24 points to lead Boston College to an 80-65 win over Central Connecticut in the schools' season-opener Friday night.

BC senior point guard Tyrese Rice, the Atlantic Coast Conference's second-leading scorer last season, was out with a one-game suspension for an unspecified violation of team rules.

Joe Trapani scored 13 and Biko Paris 12 for the Eagles.

Ken Horton led Central Connecticut with 21 as the Blue Devils lost their 12th straight road opener.

The Eagles started the game slowly without Rice, falling behind 8-1. They outscored the Blue Devils 17-7 over the final seven minutes of the first half, including 12 points from Sanders, and led 36-28 at intermission.

Trapani's 3-pointer early in the second half gave the Eagles' their first double-digit lead at 44-32. They pushed the lead to 20 points, 62-41, on Dallas Elmore's two free throws with 11:07 to play.