Photo courtesy of gobonnies.com
BY: AIDAN SHINNERS, STAFF WRITER
The St. Bonaventure University men’s basketball team split season series with Duquesne University following a 78-73 loss Saturday at the Reilly Center.
The Bonnies (14-11 3-9 A-10) came back from an 18 point first-half deficit taking the lead late in the second half, only for the Dukes (15-10 7-5 A-10) to shut the Bonnies comeback attempt down with a three-pointer with 15 seconds to play.
Duquesne junior guard Jimmie Williams, who hit the dagger three late in the second half, finished with a team-high 19 points. Close behind him was senior guard Tarence Guinyard, who netted 18 points for the Dukes.
The Bonnies rolled out a balanced offensive attack, with four players reaching double-digits, including senior forward Frank Mitchell, who recorded a 20-point double-double and a team-high four assists. Redshirt junior guard Dasonte Bowen scored 18 and shot a perfect 8-8 from the free throw line.
Duquesne started the game hot, answering St. Bonaventure’s opening bucket with a 10-0 run. With seven minutes to play in the first, Guinyard converted a four-point play, giving the Dukes their largest lead of the game and a 37-19 lead.
Bowen converted two free throws for the Bonnies to end the first half and cut the deficit down to 12.
Williams and Guinyard led the Dukes in first-half scoring with 11 and 10 points respectively. Bowen and senior guard Cayden Charles each scored 10 in the first for the Bonnies.
Bonaventure started the second half with an 8-2 run sparked by a three from junior guard Buddy Simmons and a pair of layups from Mitchell. With eight minutes to go in the game, Simmons brought the Bonnies within two with a mid-range jumper and would cut the lead down to 63-62 a minute later with the same shot.
Charles would give the Bonnies a 68-67 lead with four to go converting a layup through contact and making the following free throw. Duquesne would take the lead right back with a transition layup from Guinyard.
Sophomore forward Joe Grahovac scored his only points of the game with two minutes left. A go-ahead three-pointer to take a two-point lead.
Two possessions later, the Bonnies defense would leave senior forward Alex Williams open from the corner to take the lead back with 60 seconds to play. Bonaventure tried to answer right back, but Grahovac couldn’t convert what would have been the tying two-point jumper.
Duquesne called game with a Williams deep three-pointer as their shot clock expired, leaving the Bonnies with 14 seconds to overcome a 5-point deficit. The Dukes would hold that 78-73 lead the remaining 14 seconds and improve to fourth place in the Atlantic 10.
Bonaventure remains at home in the Reilly Center and will take on St. Joseph’s University on Feb. 18. Tipoff is set for 7p.m. on the YES Network and ESPN+
