St. Bonaventure bounced back in impressive fashion. In a performance that might need a few new adjectives the Bonnies defeated Rhode Island 99-64. Wednesday’s game at Reilly Center saw the Bonnies improve to 11-5 (2-2). Rhode Island suffered their first conference loss and is now 9-8 (3-1).
Possessions: 73- A quicker pace. Trailing 51-25 at intermission, Archie Miller’s Rams had to push the pace affording more possessions in hope of a comeback.
Offensive efficiency: St. Bona 136, Rhode Is. 88
In simple terms, the Bonnies would love to bottle this performance.
Four Factors:
St. Bona | Rhode Island | |
eFG Pct. | 66 | 46 |
FT Rate | 26 | 41 |
OREB Pct. | 23 | 36 |
TO Rate | 8 | 27 |
Bonnies had an outstanding performance from the floor. They shot 27 of 42 (64%) inside the arc. From three point range the numbers were 11 of 24 (46%).
Rhode Island was 16 of 35 (46%) from two and 6 of 19 (32%) from beyond the arc.
Offensive rebounding percentage showed a disparity in the Rams’ favor. In raw numbers, the totals were close as Rhode Island showed an 11-7 edge.
The turnover department was an eye opener. Bonnies forced 13 first half turnovers and a 21-0 difference in points off turnovers. On the night, Rhode Island committed 20 turnovers for a 27% rate. Mark Schmidt’s Bonnies were guilty of just six, tying a season-low, for an outstanding 8% rate.
“I thought that was the best performance we’ve had in a long time” Schmidt told gobonnies.com. “”We played consistently for 40 minutes. We didn’t play well in the last two games but I thought our guys really bounced back.”
Kenpom.com MVP: Charles Pride. The Bonnie senior scored a game high 25 points with four rebounds and four assists. Pride shot 5 of 6 from three.
A move that paid off. Schmidt moved Moses Flowers into the starting lineup in lieu of Daryl BanksIII who came off the bench. The Bona mentor felt Banks had been pressing and struggling and coming off the bench would be a good change. It helped as the Bonnies raced out to a 26-12 lead in the first nine minutes.
On the night Banks scored 13 points, handing out seven assists in 27 minutes. The senior guard was also shot 3 of 5 from downtown.
Once again it was a spread the wealth attack. Bonnies had five in double figures for the fifth time this season. Beside Pride and Banks, Chad Venning scored 15, Noel Brown 13 and Mika Adams-Woods 12.
Notes: The 99 points was the most for the Bonnies in a regulation A10 game since they posted a 104-80 home win over UMass in January of 1981.
Bonnies dominated points off turnovers to the tune of 29-2. They also led 44-28 on points in the paint, 22-4 in fastbreaks and 37-16 off the bench. Total domination.
Rhode Island was led by Luis Kortwright with 13 points. Jaden House and David Green both added 11 points for the Rams.
Venning rejected a game and career high six shots. That is the most since Osun Osunniyi had seven against Siena in November of 2021.
Following that huge 26 point lead at half, there was no letdown for the Bonnies. They ‘won’ the first four minutes after the break by a 9-7 count. That extended the lead to 28. That margin would expand to as much as 45 before closing it out in the final minutes.
Class move by coach Schmidt. The Bonnies had 99 on the scoreboard and the crowd was clamoring for triple digits. On their final possession rather than shoot, they simply held the ball for a shot clock violation with just under ten seconds remaining.
Next up for the Bonnies is a trip to George Mason. Long time Bonaventure assistant Steve Curran is on Tony Skinn’s staff in Fairfax. The Patriots are 13-5 (2-3) but in the midst of a three game losing streak.