Photo: GoBonnies
BY NATHAN SOLOMON, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
St. Bonaventure wanted to open its Atlantic 10 Conference slate with a bang. That’s exactly what it did.
The Bonnies broke their four-game skid in front of 3,978 Saturday, winning 83-64 to ring in the new year.
“I thought our guys stepped up and met the challenge,” coach Mark Schmidt said. “We played hard, we executed, we defended — that’s how you win in the Atlantic 10.”
Redshirt junior guard Daryl Banks lll scored a game-high 31 points, connecting on nine of his 17 shots and all seven of his free throws.
It was Banks’ second 30+ point outing this season. He set a career-high earlier this season with 34 points against Bowling Green.
“I was just in the gym all this week before the game leading up to it,” Banks said. “When I got to the game, I just let it come to me. I didn’t try to force anything and shots started to fall and I just got into a rhythm.”
Freshman forward Yann Farell set a career-high with 22 points — all coming in the second half. He connected on four of his 11 3-point attempts and hauled in 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the season.
UMass opened the scoring at 11-10 in the first six minutes before Bonaventure went on a 12-1 run to take a 10-point lead. The Minutemen tried to claw back into it, but technical fouls to UMass coach Frank Martin and guard Noah Fernandes took the life out of the visitors.
The Bonnies went into the half with a 43-28 lead in part of 21 bench points. The lead only grew in the second half as Bonaventure won by 19.
“We had a consistent effort, and that’s what I’m proud of,” Schmidt said. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be scoring [off the bench], it just has to be productive. Defending, rebounding, getting some loose balls [and] setting good screens.
“We kept the ball in front of us better. Our posts did a good job … it was a team victory.”
Bonaventure shot 49% from the field and held UMass to 39%. The Bonnies forced 17 turnovers to their 11 and were outrebounded 36-29.
Fernandes led UMass with 13 points. Brandon Martin and Isaac Kante each had 12 and RJ Luis added 11.
Bonaventure returns to action Wednesday when it hosts George Mason at 7 p.m.
solomonj20@bonaventure.edu
