NEWTON, Mass. (Interstat) — In a stunning upset that defied pregame projections, the Central Connecticut Blue Devils edged the Boston College Eagles 60-59 in a defensive struggle Tuesday night at Silvio O. Conte Forum.

The game was decided on a driving layup by Central Connecticut’s Darin Smith with just three seconds remaining on the clock, capping a back-and-forth final minute and handing the Blue Devils their second win of the young season.

The contest was a stark contrast to the offensive shootout many anticipated. Both teams struggled to find their shooting touch throughout the night. Central Connecticut finished the game shooting 38 percent from the floor, while Boston College was even colder, connecting on just 33 percent of its attempts. The Eagles’ woes were particularly pronounced from beyond the arc, where they made only 7 of 34 attempts.

Despite the poor shooting, Boston College held a narrow 30-26 lead at halftime. The Eagles maintained a small advantage for much of the second half, but could never pull away, allowing the persistent Blue Devils to hang around.

The game featured several key individual performances. For the victorious Blue Devils, Melo Sanchez came off the bench to provide a critical scoring spark, tying for a game-high 17 points, including five three-pointers. Darin Smith, a Springfield, Massachusetts native, added 14 points, none more important than the final two. Point guard Jay Rodgers facilitated the offense effectively, dishing out a game-high six assists.

Boston College was led by Fred Payne, who shouldered the scoring load with 17 points. Jayden Hastings contributed eight points and was a force on the glass, while Chase Forte added nine points, three assists and three blocks in a strong all-around effort.

The game’s final sequence was a microcosm of the entire night. With the Eagles clinging to a 59-58 lead, Central Connecticut got a crucial defensive stop. Following a timeout, the Blue Devils executed their final play, resulting in Smith’s game-winning drive to the basket. Boston College’s desperation heave at the buzzer was off target, sealing the upset.

Defensively, Central Connecticut was active, recording eight steals and five blocks. Max Frazier was a presence in the paint with three blocks for the Blue Devils. Both teams committed 10 turnovers, but Central Connecticut’s slightly more efficient offense, scoring 60 points on 66 possessions compared to Boston College’s 59 on 67, proved to be the narrow difference.

The loss drops Boston College to 1-2 on the season. The Eagles will look to rebound on the road against Temple on Saturday. Central Connecticut, now 2-1, will travel to face Massachusetts on Sunday. The game was played before an announced crowd of 3,774.