Campus Watch

Big 4 Hoops Chat

Big 4 Hoops Chat

Bona-Richmond Game Analysis

St. Bonaventure 62, Richmond 47

How Bona Won: Fifth-year coach Mark Schmidt knew from the start of his Bona tenure that he wanted an exemplary defensive team. He just didn't have the athletes to make it happen. Until now. The Bonnies limited Richmond to 5 second-half field goals and 26.5 percent shooting overall They destroyed the Spiders on the boards, 43-27. Bona bolted out to a 10-0 lead and never was seriously threatened in winning for the ninth time in the last 12 games.

Player of the Game: Fouls put the handcuffs on Andrew Nicholson (how many times have you heard that in his career?). But he still managed 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the floor, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out three assists -- all in 28 minutes. He fouled out with 3 1/2 minutes left.

Play of the Game: Bona made it 6-0 when Nicholson pivoted from eight feet, took a long step, stumbled and launched an underhanded scoop shot that found the net. And you wonder why NBA scouts are smitten with his athletic ability?

Play of the Game II: Chris Johnson was huge off the Bona bench. Momentum seemed to be slipping away when he produced a steal and finished a three-point play off a Matthew Wright pass a little over four minutes into the second half. That made it 39-30. Johnson finished with 11.

Future Watch: Kendall Anthony, a 5-foot-8 guard, came off the bench to score 21 for Richmond, matching his career high. He's legit. He's lightning. And he's only a freshman.

Stat of the Game: Richmond went 6 of 22 from behind the arc. They were 16 of 33 in their last game, a 102-58 dismantling of Fordham (which beat GW Saturday, by the way).

What It Means: Bona improved to 12-7 overall and 5-2 in the A-10. They're in a three-way tie for first.

In the House: A great crowd of 4,589 savored every minute of it. Well, almost every minute.

Next Up: The next two games probably will determine Bona's chances of taking the A-10 regular-season crown. They visit Saint Louis Wednesday. Then they're at UMass a week from Wednesday. A 1-1 road trip would be a major success.

Bob DiCesare

Bona vs. Richmond Live

Big 4 Hoops Chat

Bona-Fordham Game Analysis

St. Bonaventure 95, Fordham 51

How Bona Won: It was a complete mismatch when Fordham's Chris Gaston had to miss game because of a one-game suspension. He's one of conference's better players, averaging 15.4 points and 10.5 boards. Without him, Bona had everything its way on the inside. Andrew Nicholson and Da'Quan Cook combined for 37 points and 17 rebounds. It was never, ever a game.

Player of the Game: Cook seized the opportunity from the outset and finished with a season-high 18 points and eight rebounds. He was 6 of 11 from the field.

Stat of the Game: The Bonnies went 24 of 26 from the foul line. That's 92.3 percent. Cook and Youssou Ndoye had the misses. I imagine they'll be running suicides next practice.

Stat of the Game II: Fordham shot 41.7 percent in the second half -- and still finished at 29.1 for the game. The Rams made 6 of 31 first-half shots.

In the House: 4,119 turned up and had a jolly-good time.

They Said It:

Fordham coach Tom Pecora: "Today's my birthday. Nice present, huh?"

Bona coach Mark Schmidt: "We emphasize all the time the three aspects of the game -- defending, rebounding and taking care of the ball. In all three facets I thought we excelled."

Eye-Opener: Circumstance afforded freshman guard Jordan Gathers 20 minutes off the bench. He has game: 12 points, seven rebounds and 5-of-7 shooting from the field (including 2 of 4 from three). Strong on the ball, too.

What It Means: Bona's 10-7 overall and 3-2 in the A-10. They're 7-1 at the Reilly Center.

Next Up: The Bonnies travel to Rhode Island Wednesday to face former coach Jim Baron, who's on the hot seat. Road wins are hard to come by. The Bonnies need this one.

-- Bob DiCesare

Bona vs. Fordham Live

Fordham Minus Top Player vs. Bona

Fordham will be without 6-7 forward Chris Gaston, one of the top players in the Atlantic 10, for this afternoon's 2 p.m. start at Bona. Gaston was ejected for throwing a punch late in the first half of Wednesday's win over Rhode Island. The transgression carries a one-game suspension.

Gaston averages 15.4 points and 10.4 rebounds. He went off for 35 against West Texas and had 18 and 10 in the Rams' upset of nationally ranked Harvard.

Did You Know?: Cool item in the Fordham press notes. The Rams participated in the first game ever played with the 3-point line -- on Feb. 7, 1945. The arc -- at 21 feet -- was used on an experimental basis, with Columbia making 11 and Fordham nine. What's more, players had the option of shooting two-point free throws from behind the arc. Eight of those were made. Neat stuff. I had no idea.

-- Bob DiCesare

Big 4 Hoops Chat

Bona-Dayton Game Analysis

ST. BONAVENTURE 81, DAYTON 73

How Bona Won: The Bonnies have their faults and those to often obscure how well they do other things. Like play defense (Dayton shot 37 percent in the seocnd half). And shoot free throws (24 of 28 after shooting a robust 75 percent coming in). And when you do those things well and you have a determined Andrew Nicholson? That's how you knock off the No. 16 team in the RPIs.

Player of the Game: Finally!! Nicholson poured in a season-high 30 points, grabbed six rebounds, blocked six shots and didn't pick up his first foul until 10 minutes into the second half. It was only the second time this season he's had 20 or more (he had 23 in the win over UB).

Unsung Hero: You knew senior forward Da'Quan Cook was feeling it when he opened the second half with a wide pivot followed by a Nicholson-like drive down the lane. He matched his season high of 14 points and had a huge offseason rebund off a missed Nicholson three down the stretch.

Unsung Hero II: Charlon Kloff played 29 minutes at the point, scored 12 points, handed out two assists and didn't turn it over. Backup point guard Eric Mosley didn't turn it over either.

Stat of the Game: Dayton made 6 of its first 7 three-point attempts and 5 of its next 23.

What It Means: It really was a must win for Bona in its quest for prime positioning in the A-10 Tournament. The Bonnies improved to 9-6 overall and 2-1 in the Atlantic 10. Dayton fell to 12-5, 2-1).

In The House: Vocal gathering of 3,317 watched Bona run its home winning streak to five.

They Said It: "I guess they actually let me play today. It makes a big difference." -- Andrew Nicholson on picking up just two fouls and playing 34 minutes.

Next Up: Bona heads to Cincinnati Saturday for a date with Xavier.

-- Bob DiCesare