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Boston College's Joe Trapani, right, shoots while being defended by Massachusetts players during the second half of an NCAA basketball game in Boston, Wednesday Dec. 23, 2009. Boston College won 79-67. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

CHESTNUT HILL - Early in the second half Wednesday night, the University of Massachusetts and Boston College men's basketball teams appeared to be headed for another down-to-the-wire classic that has characterized the last few games of the rivalry.

But the Minutemen could not overcome their game-long shooting slump as the Eagles pulled away for a 79-67 win at Conte Forum.

The Minutemen shot 3-for-21 from 3-point range and went six minutes, 44 seconds without a field goal midway through the second half.

"BC made some plays when they needed to and we missed some easy ones down the stretch," UMass coach Derek Kellogg said. "We did a good job of rebounding but at times our inexperience came through a little bit.

"We can't shoot 3-for-21 from 3 and 14-for-24 from the free-throw line against an ACC team on their home court and expect to come out victorious," he added. "We had some good looks that didn't go in and we missed as many open 3s as we have in quite some time."

UMass junior Anthony Gurley said the Minutemen need to be able to win even when they do not shoot well.

"Every night's not going to be Christmas," he said. "We have to find a way to get the job done."

Eagles coach Al Skinner credited his defense with producing the victory.

"The key to the game for us is how well we play defensively. We held them ¿ their shooting percentage was down and I think that really was the difference in the ball game," Skinner said.

The UMass defense, which had been solid in the first half, slipped in the second as Boston College (8-4) shot 18-for-31 from the field after intermission.

Despite its offensive troubles, the Minutemen (6-6) were still alive late. A layup by Sean Carter with 3:28 remaining brought UMass within 63-57.

Then Rakim Sanders got the ball for the Eagles behind the 3-point line in front of the BC bench. Sanders had been 0-for-5 from the floor in the half, and several faces on the Eagle bench grimaced when Sanders elevated for the 3-point try. But more faces on the Minuteman bench cringed when the shot went in.

"We just couldn't recover from that," Sean Carter said. "It was a difficult night."

UMass never got closer than seven points the rest of the way.

In the first half the leading scorers for both teams - Ricky Harris for the Minutemen and Corey Raji for Boston College - could not get anything going offensively. Harris had two points at intermission, while Raji was scoreless.

But Raji came to life in the second half with 18 points to lift the Eagles.

Harris finished with 12.

The loss wasted good numbers for Gurley, who had 23 points and 10 rebounds for his first career double-double.

"I was proud that he had 10 rebounds, but he tired a little and at the end he didn't spring back on defense like I'm accustomed to him doing," Kellogg said. "He had a good game, but he can continue to get better."

Gurley helped UMass control the glass for the second straight game as the Minutemen outrebounded Boston College 50-33.

Hashim "Big City" Bailey had 10 rebounds in 11 minutes, while Sean Carter added nine boards, including seven offensive, to go with 16 points.

"The one thing that made me happy was the rebounding edge. Sean Carter and Hashim Bailey are really coming into their own," Kellogg said.

The Minutemen can head home for Christmas before returning to practice on Sunday. They travel to Davidson to complete their nonconference schedule at 7 p.m. next Wednesday.

Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. For more UMass coverage, including a UMass sports blog, go to http://www.gazettenet.com/blog/umass-sports.