Boston College quarterback Patrick Towles (8) throws during the first half of the Quick Lane Bowl NCAA college football game against Maryland, Monday, Dec. 26, 2016, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Boston College quarterback Patrick Towles (8) throws during the first half of the Quick Lane Bowl NCAA college football game against Maryland, Monday, Dec. 26, 2016, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) Credit: Carlos Osorio

Detroit — Patrick Towles threw two touchdown passes and caught a pass for a score in the first half, helping Boston College build a big lead in a 36-30 win over Maryland in the Quick Lane Bowl on Monday.

The Eagles (7-6) led by 16 at halftime, 23 points early in the third quarter and had to force Maryland to turn the ball over on downs late in the game to seal the victory.

The Terrapins (6-7) had the ball at their 35 with 1:48 left but didn’t gain a yard before Harold Landry helped to finish them off with a possession-ending sack.

Boston College was ahead, 29-13, at halftime after Towles threw a 49-yard TD pass to Michael Walker. On a reverse and pass from receiver Jeff Smith, the quarterback scored on a 20-yard TD catch in the second quarter.

St. Petersburg BowlMississippi St. 17, Miami (Ohio) 16

St. Petersburg, Fla. — Nick Fitzgerald rushed for 142 yards and two touchdowns and Mississippi State held off Miami (Ohio) with help from a blocked field goal in the closing seconds of the St. Petersburg Bowl.

Nelson Adams got a hand on Nick Dowd’s potential game-winning 37-yard field goal that would have helped Miami finish a stunning turnaround from a 0-6 start to the season to a winning record.

Instead, both the Bulldogs (6-7) and RedHawks (6-7) finished with losing marks.

Independence BowlNC State 41, Vanderbilt 17

Shreveport, La. — Jaylen Samuels caught three touchdown passes from Ryan Finley, Nyheim Hines returned a kickoff for a 100-yard touchdown and North Carolina State beat Vanderbilt in the Independence Bowl.

North Carolina State (7-6) won three of its final four games to finish with a winning record. The Wolfpack built a 28-3 lead by midway through the third quarter — largely thanks to Samuels’ touchdown catches of 9, 55 and 17 yards — and then held off a brief Vanderbilt rally.

Finley completed 19 of 30 passes for 235 yards. Samuels’ three touchdown catches were an Independence Bowl record.

UConn Fires Coach

Storrs, Conn. — UConn fired football coach Bob Diaco on Monday after his third season with the Huskies.

University officials announced their decision on Monday, saying Diaco would be relieved of his duties effective Jan. 2.

Athletic director David Benedict said in a statement that the program needs a new leader for long-term success.

Diaco said he hoped things would have played out differently but that he’ll continue to root for UConn to succeed.

The Huskies were 11-26 under Diaco in three seasons, including 3-9 this season. UConn’s best finish under Diaco was last year, at 6-7 and a losing trip to the St. Petersburg Bowl.

Benedict says the timing of the move may be surprising but the program needs a change in direction.

UConn officials say the search for a new coach will begin immediately.