It was back on track for St. Bonaventure. The Bonnies defeated Richmond 63-49, Wednesday at the Reilly Center. The victory improved the Bonnies to 15-3 (3-2) while Chris Mooney’s Spiders are now 7-11 (2-3). Numbers and notes…
Possessions: 56
Offensive Efficiency: St. Bona 112, Richmond 88
Four Factors:
eFG Pct.- St. Bona 53, Richmond 46
FT Rate- St. Bona 41, Richmond 22
OREB Pct.- St. Bona 17, Richmond 10
TO Rate- St. Bona 11, Richmond 14
For Mark Schmidt’s group this was a bounce-back game. Not simply in the win column but in the manner the victory was achieved. It was back to the basics that allowed them to fashion a now 15-3 ledger.
Points of Emphasis:
Rebounding. The overall battle of the boards went to Bona 30-23. Richmond secured only three boards and was limited to three second chance points.
Points in the paint. Another part of the game Schmidt emphasizes. This category went to the hosts by a 22-12 margin.
Turnovers. Bonnies turned the ball over just six times, posting an outstanding 11% turnover rate. Richmond had eight turnovers for a 14% rate. The numbers were in line as Richmond averages a 15% TO rate (27th nationally). The damage was done as most of those miscues were live ball, resulting in a 12-5 Bona edge in points off turnovers.
Weathering the run(s). Bonnies went on a 15-2 late first half run to take a 12 point lead into intermission. Richmond answered with a 15-1 spurt over the first seven minutes after the break to move ahead 40-38. The Bonnies then answered with an 8-0 run to regain the lead and were never challenged thereafter.
“Basketball is a game of runs and you’ve got to respond,” Schmidt told gobonnies.com. “We had a good run at the end of the half and they came out and really went at us at the start of the second half. If you have quality guys that can happen.”
Kenpom.com MVP– Melvin Council. Bona’s senior guard scored 14 points adding seven rebounds and five assists. Council played the full 40 minutes with one turnover.
Bonnies were led by Jonah Hinton with a career-high 19 points while Chance Moore added 15.
Notes. Richmond shot 37% from the field, including 30% from three. The Spiders attempted 27 shots from beyond the arc, 19 inside. The last 20 minutes they were only 3 of 12 (25%) from three. Bonnies were 46% overall and 32% from long distance.
Richmond scored only four points the last six minutes of the contest, connecting on one field goal- a midrange jumper by George Washington.
Spiders were led by Jason Roche with 12 points. The senior guard was Richmond’s only double figure scorer. One of the A10’s top three point shooters, Roche was four of five from the field with every attempt coming from downtown.
Chance Moore led all rebounders with nine. Richmond’s leader in that category was Apostolos Roumoglou with seven.
Richmond had zero fast break points, while the Bonnies had 10 in that category.
Bonnies have now captured 10 of the last 13 games against Richmond. The last Richmond victory at the Reilly Center was back in 2015.
Xander Wedlow scored a career-high seven points. The Bona freshman played seven minutes and was awarded the WWE legacy belt as Bonnies Player of the Game.
Bonnies will travel to the Steel City to battle Duquesne on Saturday. The Dukes began the season 0-6. Coach Dru Joyce’s club is on a hot streak of late, having won six of their last seven. They are 3-1 in A10 play and coming off a win at George Washington on Wednesday.
“We got our identity back tonight. It’s all about defending and rebounding and taking care of the basketball. Offense is fickle, but tonight we came out and played harder and with more of a purpose.” – Mark Schmidt