The home team ‘held serve’ winning three of the four games last night. The lone visiting team to post a victory was St. Bonaventure. The Bonnies made it two straight on the road, and in Virginia’s capital city (they upset VCU on Saturday), by defeating Richmond.
Saint Joseph’s 64 Rhode Island 50
Possessions: 70
Offensive efficiency: Saint Joseph’s 91, URI 71
Outstanding defensive effort spurred the Hawks to their fifth win in their last six outings. URI was held to 34% shooting, 1 of 13 for 8% from three. Saint Joseph’s also forced the visiting Rams into a 26% turnover rate that accounted for a 21-8 advantage in points off turnovers. Cameron Brown scored a game-high 18 points for the Hawks. Brown also pulled down eight rebounds. Brayon Freeman was URI’s lone double-figure scorer with 14 points.
St. Bonaventure 66 Richmond 62
Possessions: 66
Offensive efficiency: St. Bona 110, Richmond 94
Two straight road wins for the Bonnies. In a game with four ties and four lead changes, Bona had a nine point lead with 1:19 to go. Richmond made a final run , behind Matt Grace and Isaiah Bigelow’s three poiners , getting it down to one possession but the Bonnies prevailed at the charity stripe. Yann Farell led Bona with 18 points (4 of 5 from long range). Chad Venning posted his 16th double-figure outing of the campaign with 17. Tyler Burton of Richmond, which has now dropped four straight, led all scorers with 22 points. Bona actually shot better from three (8 of 16 for 50%) than two (14 of 31 for 45%) point range.
George Mason 70 UMass 59
Possessions: 68
Offensive efficiency: GMU 103, UMass 87
UMass led by seven late in the first half before host George Mason scored 10 unanswered points to take a three point lead into the break. UMass went on a second half run to regain the lead before the Patriots regrouped and never looked back. UMass held a 15-7 lead on the offensive boards. Minutemen held a 17-4 advantage in second chance points but were limited to 37% shooting from the floor. Justyn Fernandez led the Patriots, who shot 48% from the floor, with 18 points. TJ Weeks paced UMass with 18 as well.
La Salle 75 George Washington 64
Possessions: 70
Offensive efficiency: La Salle 107, GW 91
In a back and forth affair La Salle led by as much as 14 points in the first half. The visiting Colonials went on a 17-4 run to take a six point lead early in the final stanza. Defensive stops and a 10-0 run of their own put the momentum and lead back in La Salle’s favor. With the win, Fran Dunphy’s Explorers snapped a five game slide. George Washington has now dropped two in a row. Both teams had four players in double figures. Khalil Bradley of La Salle led all scorers with 15. James Bishop and Maximus Edwards both scored 14 points to lead the Colonials.
