GAME NOTES: After each team suffered losses to conference foes on Saturday, the Boston College Eagles and Syracuse Orange will try to bounce back as they meet head-to-head in an Atlantic Coast Conference clash at the Carrier Dome on Tuesday.

Boston College hung tough with national powerhouse Virginia on Saturday, but the Cavaliers found their rhythm late in the contest to pull away for a 66-51 win. It was the fourth loss for the Eagles in their last five games. Now BC is 8-8 on the season with an 0-4 mark in ACC play.

Syracuse watched as a seven-game win streak ended on Saturday with a 66-53 defeat at the hands of Clemson. It was the first loss for the Orange since a Dec. 20 contest at Villanova. Still, Syracuse is 13-5 this season with a 4-1 mark in the conference, and is an impressive 10-1 at home.

The Orange lead the all-time series over the Eagles, 41-24, although the two sides have split the last 10 games. Boston College had the last laugh a season ago with a 62-59 overtime victory at the Carrier Dome in February.

Second-ranked Virginia improved to a perfect 17-0 on the season with the victory over Boston College, but the Cavs got a scare out of the Eagles, especially in the first half. Boston College trailed by only three points when the teams broke for halftime, and it wasn't until about midway through the final period when Virginia started to really pull away. BC shot just 39.5 percent from the floor in the loss, and was led in scoring by Olivier Hanlan, who had 18 points and six assists. Patrick Heckmann chipped in with 15 points for Boston College, which at least limited the Cavs to 42.9 percent shooting in the contest.

It's been another strong season for Hanlan, who once again leads his underachieving Eagles in scoring at 16.5 ppg - good for fifth in the ACC. The only other Eagles player to average a double-digit scoring total at this point in the season is Aaron Brown, who contributes 13.8 ppg on 42.6 percent shooting from the floor. Old Dominion transfer Dmitri Batten has received an added number of starts for the Eagles, but the former leading scorer for the Monarchs is only managing 7.5 ppg this season. Boston College as a whole has averaged 64.9 ppg, and has allowed opponents to net 63.5 ppg. Dennis Clifford leads the Eagles in rebounding, grabbing 5.9 rpg.

Syracuse suffered through a particularly dismal first half against Clemson on Saturday. The Orange connected on only 25 percent of their shots in the frame, while the Tigers made 53.3 percent to take a 39-18 lead into the intermission. Although Syracuse made a run in the second half to cut the deficit to 13 points by the end of regulation, Clemson's lead was simply too great to overcome. Rakeem Christmas kept up his stellar season, though, by contributing a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds in the loss. Kaleb Joseph chipped in 12 points, and Michael Gbinije added 11. Tyler Roberson pulled down a team- high 13 rebounds.

Christmas has been a monster this season, and has kept his Orange afloat with a team-leading 18.3 ppg (second in the conference). His 9.0 rpg is the best on the team, and ranks third in the ACC, while his 40 blocked shots is another team high. Trevor Cooney checks in at second on the squad in scoring with 14.0 ppg, and Gbinije is third for the Orange with 10.5 ppg. Syracuse is netting 68.8 ppg this season, and has been strong defensively in holding opponents to just 59.4 ppg on 37.9 percent shooting. Joseph has filled in well for the departed Tyler Ennis at point guard, and is averaging 4.8 apg.

Boston College has really struggled in ACC play this season, while Syracuse suffered its only loss in conference action on Saturday after a horrible first-half. The Eagles have yet to win a game on the road, and it will be especially difficult to pick up a win at the Carrier Dome.