GAME NOTES: Instate rivals will square off as part of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, as the Boston College Eagles and Massachusetts Minutemen meet up on the hardwood at the TD Garden on Sunday afternoon.

Derek Kellogg's Minutemen opened their 2014-15 campaign with an impressive offensive display, outlasting a tough Siena team at the Mullins Center on Friday, 95-87. Despite losing one of the Atlantic 10's most dynamic scorers in Chaz Williams, early indications are that UMass probably won't miss a beat at the offensive end of the floor and should once again be a factor in the A-10 this season.

Boston College is under new management with first-year head coach Jim Christian. The Eagles struggled mightily a year ago with just eight total victories, prompting the end of the Steve Donahue era. Christian's debut on the bench didn't come without some questions, but the Eagles got the win in their season opener nonetheless, topping Hew Hampshire, 58-50.

Boston College leads the all-time series by a count of 26-20. UMass has won the last two meetings, but the Eagles have won seven of the last 10.

The question of where UMass was going to look to replace Williams' scoring output may have been answered in the opener, as Trey Davis erupted fort a career-high 28 points in the victory. Davis was 6-of-10 from the floor and 12- of-17 from the free-throw line to lead all scorers in the game. Forward Maxie Esho added 21 points and nine rebounds and guard Derrick Gordon finished with 17 points and nine boards, for Massachusetts, which converted a whopping 39 free-throw attempts in the game, compared to Siena's 14. While Esho and Gordon just missed double-doubles, center Cady Lalanne was able to complete the feat, with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Davis averaged just 2.6 ppg a year ago as a role player, but will obviously be a key cog for UMass this season. Pairing him with Gordon (9.4 ppg last year) in the backcourt should give Kellogg the firepower he needs to open things up inside for Esho (8.9 ppg) and Lalanne (11.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg).

Boston College didn't shoot the ball particularly well against UNH at a mere .358 clip overall, but that number was weighed down significantly by an ugly 1-of-19 from behind the arc (.053). Despite going 0-of-7 from 3-point range in the game, Aaron Brown still led all scorers with 21 points. Olivier Hanlan added 17 points for Boston College, which must find other sources of offense going forward. The remainder of the roster accounted for just 20 points in the eight-point victory.

Hanlan has been an explosive scorer since his arrival at Boston College and last season was no different, as he netted an impressive 18.5 ppg. He will definitely need help going forward, with the likely candidates being Brown, who transferred in from Southern Miss, via Temple, Lonnie Jackson (7.0 ppg last year) and Patrick Heckmann (6.0 ppg) in the backcourt. The frontcourt for BC is more of a mystery. If seven-footer Dennis Clifford (six points, four rebounds) can provide anything in the middle, the Eagles could exceed last year's terrible win total.

The Minutemen have a huge advantage thanks to their balanced scoring. If Boston College doesn't get more from its supporting cast, this game could get out of hand.