SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Interstat) — In a tense, back-and-forth contest defined by defensive stands and critical free throws, Marcus Banks delivered a heroic performance to lift Massachusetts to a narrow 76-74 victory over Boston College in a non-conference men’s basketball game Wednesday night at the MassMutual Center.

Banks, a 6-foot-3 guard from Hampton, Virginia, poured in a game-high 29 points, including the decisive free throws with five seconds remaining, to propel the Minutemen to their fourth consecutive win. His clutch shooting offset a gritty effort from Boston College, which erased a second-half deficit but could not secure the final stop or the final basket.

The game’s most pivotal sequence unfolded in the final half-minute. Trailing 74-72, Massachusetts called a timeout with 14 seconds left. Out of the break, Banks drove aggressively into the lane and drew a foul on Boston College’s Chase Forte. He calmly sank both free throws to tie the game. On the ensuing inbound play, Forte was fouled again, sending him to the line with a chance to put the Eagles back ahead with five seconds on the clock. Forte missed both attempts, and Massachusetts secured the rebound.

Banks was immediately fouled, returning to the stripe with the chance to win it. He replicated his prior composure, knocking down both free throws for the 76-74 lead. Boston College’s last-gasp attempt, a deep three-pointer from Forte as time expired, missed the mark, sealing the Minutemen’s triumph.

The contest was a defensive struggle marked by poor shooting. Boston College endured a frigid night from beyond the arc, connecting on just 3 of 23 three-point attempts. Massachusetts fared better at 7 of 16 from deep, a key differential in the tight outcome. Both teams struggled at the free-throw line, with the Eagles making 27 of 35 and the Minutemen just 13 of 24, making Banks’ late perfection all the more critical.

Despite the shooting woes, Boston College’s defense kept them in the game. The Eagles forced 14 Massachusetts turnovers, recording eight steals and seven blocks. Aidan Shaw contributed three of those blocks in just 16 minutes of action. Offensively, Donald Hand led the Eagles with 18 points, while Forte added 12 points and five assists. Boden Kapke and Fred Payne each chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively.

For Massachusetts, Banks’ backcourt mate, Daniel Hankins-Sanford of Charlotte, North Carolina, provided crucial support with 17 points. Leonardo Bettiol, from Roncade, Italy, added 12 points and three assists, anchoring the frontcourt.

The first half set the tone for a grind, with Massachusetts taking a slim 35-33 lead into the break. The Minutemen built their largest lead at nine points early in the second half before Boston College mounted its comeback. The Eagles finally pulled ahead midway through the period, setting the stage for the frantic finish that featured six lead changes and three ties in the final six minutes.

With the win, Massachusetts improves to 7-3 overall, continuing its positive momentum ahead of a neutral-site clash with Florida State in Sunrise, Florida, on Saturday. Boston College, which has now lost three of its last four, falls to 5-6. The Eagles will look to regroup before hosting Fairleigh Dickinson on Dec. 22.

The game, played before a crowd of 5,853, was a classic example of efficiency deciding a contest where style points were scarce. Both teams finished with 73 possessions, but Massachusetts’ slightly more effective offense, posting an offensive rating of 103.5 to Boston College’s 101.9, proved to be the final, marginal difference on a night where every point was earned the hard way.