Ishmael El-Amin's team-leading 12 points helped Rhode Island hand Boston College its first loss, 59-47, while winning its third straight to open the season Wednesday night in Kingston, R.I.

Makhi Mitchell had 10 points and eight rebounds, while brother Makhel Mitchell added eight points and seven boards for Rhode Island, which avenged last season's 69-64 loss to BC in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

T.J. Bickerstaff totaled a career-high 22 points and 15 rebounds, and Quinten Post scored 11 to lead Boston College, which fell for the first time during new coach Earl Grant's debut season after starting 3-0.

The Eagles still own a 38-15 advantage over the Rams in the all-time series.

Rhode Island led 35-26 at halftime and used an 8-2 surge to go up 43-28 with 14:30 remaining.

Two free throws by Post brought the Eagles within single digits at 47-38 with 8:22 left. After a pair of Ishmael Leggett free throws, six straight points by Bickerstaff -- including a 3-pointer with 5:24 on the clock -- cut BC's deficit to 49-44.

Makhel Mitchell's jumper and El-Amin's trey restored the Rams' double-digit lead. BC was unable to cut the deficit below eight down the stretch.

The Rams opened the game on an 8-0 run before the Eagles rattled off 10 unanswered points to go up by two.

Makhi Mitchell's layup with 9:31 left in the first half put Rhode Island ahead 19-11. BC made another push to pull within 23-22 on Makai Ashton-Langford's free throw with 4:10 remaining before the Rams ended the half on a 12-4 run.

Boston College shot just 25 percent from the floor for the game, including just 3 of 12 from beyond the arc.

Boston College heads home to face Utah on Saturday. Rhode Island remains in Kingston to take on Tulsa on Saturday.

--Field Level Media