VCU held off a late St. Bonaventure rally to defeat the Bonnies 67-64 at Siegel Center. Friday’s nationally televised game saw VCU move to first place in the Atlantic Ten. The Rams, on a five game win streak, are now 15-4 (8-2) while the Bonnies fell to 10-3 (8-3). The numbers:
Possessions: 66
Offensive efficiency (Points per possession): VCU 102, St. Bona 97
Your pace or mine. VCU prefers a pace in the low 70 possession range which is decidedly uptempo. Bona likes to set the tempo at a more moderate mid sixty possession range. Obviously the game pace was more to Bona coach Mark Schmidt’s liking.
First four. At the 16 minute mark the Bonnies held a 4-2 lead. Those opening minutes saw VCU get several good looks that did not fall. Obviously Bona would need to tighten up and not allow those open looks. Another thing came into play. At the 16 minute mark Jared Holmes was whistled for an offensive foul. It was his second of the game forcing Schmidt to go to the bench early.
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