Freshman big man Nik Popovic converted an offensive rebound with two-tenths of a second left to give Boston College a 72-71 upset of Auburn in the opener of the Under Armour "Reunion" doubleheader at Madison Square Garden in New York on Monday night.

Popovic followed a missed drive by fellow freshman Ky Bowman with his fifth rebound and seventh and eighth points off the bench, allowing Boston College to end a two-game losing streak with only its second win in the past six games.

The Eagles (5-5) opened the game on a 12-2 run and Auburn (6-2) didn't get its first lead until there was 6:45 left in the game. The Tigers, playing the first game in New York City in their 111-year history, led 69-65 after a Mustapha Heron layup with 1:59 left.

That would be Auburn's last field goal of the game.

Baskets by Bowman and Popovic tied the game at 69 with 55 seconds left before A.J. Turner gave Boston College a one-point lead by going 1 of 2 at the foul line with 19 seconds left.

Tigers forward Danjel Purifoy, who led all scorers with 27 points, then hit two free throws to put Auburn up by one with 13 seconds remaining. Boston College put the ball right into play, and Bowman wound up driving toward the basket -- Popovic then playing the hero with his third basket down the stretch.

Jerome Robinson, coming off his worst game of the season, led Boston College with 23 points, 16 in the first half. Bowman scored 12 of his 15 points early, and the Eagles won despite committing 22 turnovers, 16 in the first half, and going just 11 of 19 from the foul line.

Heron added 15 points for the Tigers, coached by Boston College alum and Boston-area native Bruce Pearl.

Pearl brought his team to New York a day early for a field trip to the 9/11 memorial.