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He was the #1 recruit in the country and went to high school right in Boston College's backyard. Patrick Ewing was the toast of the town, a legend at Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School where opposing teams would prepare to face the 7'0 center by using brooms to simulate his shot blocking prowess.
Ewing's decision came down to BC and Georgetown. During his recruiting trip to BC, the students chanted "We Want Ewing" as he walked across the Roberts Center floor, but that never materialized. Georgetown was an up-and-coming eastern power, with Coach John Thompson gaining a reputation as a top notch recruiter and game coach and having taken the Hoyas from a three-win team the year before he arrived to five NCAA and two NIT appearances in his first nine years on the job.
Ewing announced that he would be attending Georgetown in a press conference that was covered by all the local media and would be considered crazy today.
He returned to Boston to face the Eagles for the first time on February 17, 1982 where a hostile crowd awaited the 13th ranked Hoyas in a game that could have easily banged out the old Boston Garden.
BC shot an incredible 71% from the floor that night, lead by John Bagley's 26 points and stunned Thompson, Sleepy Floyd and Ewing, 80-71.
Dr. Tom Davis's Eagles got out in transition and controlled Ewing, getting stellar play from Michigan transfer John Garris, and raced to a 43-31 halftime lead. The lead would grow to 13 at 66-53 with 6:57 left on a Garris dunk.
Georgetown would really never threaten the Eagles, and BC had a huge upset win.
Both teams would have fabulous post season runs. Georgetown would get all the way to the National Championship game where they would lose to Dean Smith, Michael Jordan and North Carolina in the infamous Fred Brown pass to James Worthy game.
BC, on the other hand, would make it all the way to the Elite Eight, ultimately falling to Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler and Houston Cougars in one of the greatest seasons in Eagle history.
Check out the game and listen right after the time out around the 8 minute mark at the chant coming out from the BC student section...leading the chant, with his back to you and the curly hair...that is former Tennessee and current Auburn coach and of course, BC grad, Bruce Pearl!
One final note, this ultimately was Ewing's only appearance at Roberts Center. The other BC home games during that stretch were played at the Boston Garden (83 and 85) and the Springfield Civic Center of all places (84).
Go Eagles!
Boston College 80 #13 Georgetown 71 (1982)