Two in a row. St. Bonaventure held on for a second straight victory- a 70-63 victory over Duquesne. Saturday’s game before a Homecoming crowd at packed Reilly Center saw the Bonnies improve to 19-9 (7-8) while Duquesne is now 11-16 (6-8). Numbers and notes…
Possessions: 62
Offensive Efficiency: St. Bona 113, Duquesne 102
Four Factors:
eFG Pct.- St. Bona 58, Duquesne 45
FT Rate- St. Bona 44, Duquesne 36
OREB Pct.- Duquesne 37, St. Bona 7
TO Rate- St. Bona 11, Duquesne 16
Century mark. Keeping opponents under triple digits in the efficiency category seems to be the ticket for the Bonnies. In only one conference loss this season did the Bonnies allow less than a 100 offensive efficiency. That was against George Washington when the Bonnies allowed a 96 defensive efficiency and still wound up on the wrong side of the ledger.
On the season, in A10 play, the Bonnies are fifth in the conference in offensive efficiency with a 106 mark. On the defensive end they check in at ninth with a 107. VCU leads the pack in offensive (119) and defensive efficiency (96).
Down to the wire. The Bonnies shot 50% from the floor in the first half to take a 39-30 lead at intermission. The lead went into double-digits early in the second half before the Dukes had the deficit down to two possessions with 14 minutes remaining. A late 8-0 Duquesne run reduced the Bona lead to 61-60 late. Timely plays by Chance Moore on a layup and a three pointer by Melvin Council kept the visitors from taking a lead as the hosts closed it out in the stretch.
It proved to be the norm- another nail biter in a series featuring close contests. In fact 12 of the last 20 matchups between these two have been decided by six points or less.
Compensating. The Bonnies were beaten decisively on the boards by a 39-24 margin. On the offensive glass the difference was 13-2 in favor of coach Dru Joyce’s Dukes. Duquesne also led 14-6 in second chance points. The Bonnies were able to make up the difference in other areas.
“If we’re going to lose the backboard, you better win some of those blocks at the bottom of the stat sheet,” Bona coach Mark Schmidt told gobonnies.com. ‘I thought points in the paint were important; we won by 12 (30-18). Fast break points, we won by 10 (15-5). These are important numbers. To keep them to six points off turnovers (6-6), that’s critical.”
Kenpom.com MVP: Lajae Jones. Bona’s Junior forward, who has really come on as of late, led all scorers with 24 points. Jones hit four shots from downtown and also came up with five steals.
Melvin Council scored 20 for the Bonnies and Chance Moore added 12. Duquesne was led by Tre Dinkins with 15 points. The Dukes other double-figure scorers were Cam Crawford with 12 and Matus Hronsky 11.
Notes. Duquesne shot 36% from the field, 28% from three. Bonnies checked in at 50% overall and 47% (8 of 17) from three.
Duquesne’s Maximus Edwards was the game’s leading rebounder with 10. Noah Bolanga paced Bona with six.
Prior to the game graduating seniors Noel Brown, Melvin Council and Chance Moore were honored. Council, who scored 20 or more points for the fourth time this season, still has a year of eligibility remaining.
“I thought it was an emotional game just because it’s Senior Day,” Schmidt said. “Noel, you know, that’s the last senior day he’ll have. It’s hard what Noel went through with his mom passing. It was a tough day for him…he did a good job keeping those emotions inside when he was playing.” Brown scored seven points while posting career highs in assists with five and three steals.
Bonaventure is now 71-65 against Duquesne in this long standing series. The win snapped a five-game skid against the Dukes. The last Bona victory over Duquesne was in February of 2023.
Duquesne ventures to the City of Brotherly Love on Wednesday to play La Salle. The Dukes have now dropped two of their last three.
Bonnies are also in Philadelphia, hoping to extend the two game win streak, as they visit Hawk Hill to face Saint Joseph’s. Billy Lange’s Hawks are 8-6 (17-10 overall) in A10 play. They’ve won four of their last five with the only blemish a one point road setback at George Mason. Their last game was a 78-52 home win over Richmond this past Saturday.
“I thought Lajae and Melvin carried us offensively.” – Mark Schmidt
