Virginia Tech beats Boston College 71-56

BOSTON (AP) Virginia Tech guard Seth Allen had seven stitches above his left eye, three more below, and a bandage over both cuts that made it difficult for him to see.

Yet coach Buzz Williams wasn't surprised that Allen was able to play through the injury, which came from a head-butt in the Hokies' previous game.

''He doesn't eat bones for breakfast, like I like kids to,'' Williams said after Allen scored 14 points to lead Virginia Tech past Boston College 71-56 on Tuesday night. ''But he recognizes that's an entree.''

Justin Bibbs scored 12 points with 10 rebounds to help the Hokies (15-13, 7-8 Atlantic Coast Conference) snap a five-game road losing streak and send the Eagles to their 15th consecutive loss.

Eli Carter scored 19 points for BC (7-21, 0-15) and Dennis Clifford had 13 points with 12 rebounds. The Eagles trailed 19-18 in the first half before giving up 13 consecutive points, with Allen scoring six during the run despite the injury from being head-butted against Florida State on Saturday.

''This is the least gruesome it's been,'' Williams said. ''It was boxerlike.''

Allen was proud enough of the wounds to show them to a reporter after the game.

''It's ready to come off. I'll show you,'' he said, looking into his phone to see the reflection. ''I can actually see my eye. It was actually closed before.''

BC had beaten Virginia Tech four straight times. With three games left in the regular season, the Eagles are guaranteed their worst conference record since joining the ACC in 2005.

''When 13 guys come to fight, to play with emotion, to make plays - when 13 guys do that, we're going to win,'' BC coach Jim Christian said. ''This is a results-oriented game. When you get an opportunity to make a play, you've got to make a play.''

Only a few hundred people were there for a 9 p.m. start on a cold night with a sprinkling of snow falling in Chestnut Hill. They saw Clifford score on a putback with 7:21 left in the first half to cut the deficit to one point. Then the Hokies held BC scoreless for the next 4 minutes, 6 seconds.

''We didn't come into this game assuming anything or taking anything for granted,'' Allen said. ''We just tried to play hard defensively and get better today.''

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TIP-INS

Virginia Tech: The Hokies have made a 3-pointer in 427 consecutive games. They have only gone three games total without making a 3-pointer since the arc was added in the 1986-87 season.

Boston College: The Eagles missed their first 12 attempts from 3-point range. ... The Eagles have lost eight ACC games by 22 points or more.

CROWDER IN THE CROWD

Among those at the game was Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder, who played for Williams at Marquette.

''Our coach is built off loyalty and hard work. That's just what Jae is about,'' Allen said. ''Jae feels like he's one of us. We've all been through what he's been through as far as boot camp and preseason workouts and Buzz's workouts. We all feel like we all knew Jae. It was nice to have him here instead of talking to him on the phone.''

COACHES VS. CANCER

The Eagles wore warmup shirts for Coaches vs. Cancer, and each player had a picture on the front of a friend or family member who had suffered from the disease. The back read: ''Cancer touches all of us.''

BUZZER BEATER

The highlight for the Eagles came at the end of the first half, when Eli Carter put up a long 3-pointer with a couple of seconds left. It bounced off the rim, and Garland Owens came in to with a one-handed dunk.

That made it 40-27 for the Hokies, though. They opened the second half with an 8-2 run to make it a 19-point game.

UP NEXT

Virginia Tech: At Wake Forest on Sunday.

Boston College: Hosts Georgia Tech on Saturday.