Patrick Chambers forgives turnovers. Well, at least those committed by Corey Lowe.
Boston University’s star guard paces the America East Conference with 93 giveaways this season for a per-game average of 4.9, but if the senior continues to fill the stat sheet like he did Sunday, his first-year coach won’t mind one bit.
Lowe overcame a game-high seven turnovers to author a line of 10 points, eight assists and five rebounds in 38 minutes, helping BU secure a regular-season sweep of the University of Maryland-Baltimore County with a 79-61 victory at Retriever Activities Center.
Sunday marked the Terriers’ sixth win in seven games since Lowe became the team’s primary ballhandler, following the loss of senior guard Tyler Morris to a broken right hand earlier this month.
‘Corey’s been doing a phenomenal job,’ Chambers said. ‘For him to have 10 points, five rebounds and eight assists, that shows his maturity. He didn’t let the seven turnovers bother him, and they weren’t all his fault, either. When he plays and handles the ball for almost 40 minutes a game, he’s going to turn the ball over.’
Despite battling plantar fasciitis in his right foot all season, the second-year co-captain has neutralized his high turnover rate with 91 dimes for a 1.0 assist-to-turnover ratio that ranks fifth in the conference.
‘I can’t get upset with turnovers on Corey,’ Chambers said. ‘He’s the heart and soul of this team.’
He’s also one of the top scorers in BU history. Sunday’s effort upped the Newton, Mass., native’s career point total to 1,648, vaulting him past Steve Wright for fourth place on the program’s all-time scoring list.
All hands on deck
At a point of the season when Chambers particularly needs bench production, he received precisely that from senior Sherrod Smith on Sunday.
The lanky guard pulled down a career-best seven boards over a season-high 22 minutes against UMBC, logging efficient floor time in the absence of senior walk-on forward Brendan Sullivan (dislocated left shoulder).
‘It’s refreshing to know that when somebody goes down, the next guy is able to step up. That’s what Sherrod did [Sunday],’ Chambers said. ‘There’s no limit to what he can do. He was all over the glass, moved the ball, made good decisions and played great defense. That’s exactly what we need out of him.’
BU dressed nine players for Sunday’s game, all of which saw action. Senior guard Mike Schulze made the most of his opportunity, recording his first collegiate points on a last-minute layup.
‘I’m gaining more and more confidence putting Mike in the game,’ Chambers said of the walk-on from Townsend, Mass., who has played in eight contests this season. ‘[Sunday’s] layup was beautiful. He broke through and shot it with confidence. That’s what it’s all about. That’s BU basketball, baby.’
The road less traveled
In his third stint with the Terriers, Sullivan has impacted BU in ways that can’t be measured through a box score.
A scholarship player during the 2005-06 campaign, the Darien, Conn., native sat out the next two seasons for personal reasons before rejoining the squad as a walk-on in 2008-09, when he played a total of four minutes over four games.
Sullivan spent most of the fall semester focusing primarily on academics and made his latest return Nov. 30, practicing with the team for the first time this season. The 23-year-old appeared in nine contests prior to dislocating his left shoulder last Tuesday against the University at Albany.
Chambers suggested after the Jan. 19 victory that Sullivan could miss up to two weeks of game action.
‘You feel bad for him, because he came back and he’s been playing great,’ Chambers said. ‘He means more than just a guy who came in after the season started. He pumps up our locker room, the guys like him, and they like to be around him. That’s a great team player.’
Sullivan’s teammates know better than to count him out. Not after a college career defined by overcoming adversity.
‘He didn’t want to go down without swinging, and that’s an example for all of us,’ senior guard Carlos Strong said. ‘Sully’s a hardworker who comes in every day ready to go. It doesn’t matter if he’s going to play or not, he’s always getting prepared to be the best player he can be. He’s a fighter.’