Super Sunday was anything but that for St. Bonaventure. The Bonnies dropped a 62-52 game to George Washington. Sunday’s game at the Reilly Center saw the Revolutionaries improve to 16-8 (5-6) while the Bonnies dropped to 17-8 (5-7).
George Washington had a four point lead at the half as the Bona offense struggled the first 20 minutes. Following the break the Bonnies got out to a good start to grab their first lead. It was a two possession game before George Washington, utilizing a Bona scoring drought, went on an 8-0 run to grab a 43-39 lead with just under eight minutes to play. The lead grew to seven before the Bonnies were able to answer. The Brown and White got it to a one-possession affair but were never able to draw even . Numbers and notes…
Possessions: 64
Offensive Efficiency: GW 97, St. Bona 81
Four Factors:
eFG Pct.- GW 47, St. Bona 43
FT Rate- GW 29, St. Bona 11
OREB Pct.- GW 47, St. Bona 26
TO Rate- St. Bona 21, GW 31
Points of Emphasis:
Inefficient efficiency. The Bonnies were held to an 81 offensive efficiency, their second lowest of the season. Making matters worse was the fact Bona’s low efficiency (79) was posted in their prior outing against Loyola Chicago. Moving forward that leaves questions about the Bona offense at this crucial stage of the season.
A few factors to consider. The Bonnies shot 32% from the floor the first half. They improved to 43% following intermission but still finished with a 38% showing on the afternoon. George Washington turned in a a 42% mark for the game. Bona out shot Chris Caputo’s club 6 of 21 from three (29%) compared to 5 of 21 (24%). They did score 23 points off turnovers (to GW’s six), the struggles though, were in the half court offense.
We’re not a great three point shooting team but we beat them by one from the three-point line,” Bona coach Mark Schmidt told gobonnies.com. Regardless, the Bonnies were held to their lowest point total and least amount of field goals (21) in a single game this season.
An inside job. The Bonnies were beaten on the boards by a decisive 39-24 margin. The result saw George Washington claim an 11-5 advantage in second chance points.
For the second consecutive contest they came up short in the points in the paint category. “Usually we win the points in the paint but today they beat us by 10 (34-24),” Schmidt said. “Part of that was second-chance opportunities. We didn’t get to the glass as much as we needed to and gave them second-chance opportunities.”
Kenpom.com MVP– Rafael Castro. A 15 point, 10 rebound double-double for the Revolutionaries 6’11” junior. Trey Autry scored 15 and Darren Buchanan added 12. The Bonnies were paced by Noel Brown with 15. Noah Bolanga scored a career-high 14, draining four three pointers, and Melvin Council had 11.
Notes. Castro was the game’s leading rebounder with 10. Brown paced Bona with eight boards.
Three of Bolanga’s four three pointers came in the opening six minutes of the contest. The 6’8” freshman is shooting 50% (11 of 22) in conference play.
Last year’s meeting saw the Revolutionaries ring up 86 points in an 86-75 win over the Bonnies. It was the most posted by a Bonaventure opponent in a conference game, in regulation, over the past five seasons.
Melvin Council handed out six assists, his seven game of the season with six or more.
Bona’s Chance Moore tied his career-high of four steals. He previously had four against Northern Iowa back in November.
The victory allowed GW to surpass last year’s overall and conference win total of last season.
George Washington’s win snapped a two game skid. The Revolutionaries will be home to entertain VCU on Wednesday.
Bonnies will try to snap a two game slide as they visit Rhode Island on Wednesday. The Rams of Archie Miller are also on a two game losing streak and stand at 4-7 in A10 play. Following the trip to the Ocean State the Bonnies will continue the New England swing as they visit UMass on Saturday.
“I thought George Washington was more physical. If you look at the stats, there were 13 steals, we forced 20 turnovers. We did some positive things, but from a 40-minute standpoint we didn’t do it.” – Mark Schmidt
