By Paul Casey Gotham
ST. BONAVENTURE, NY — A variety of descriptions come to mind regarding St. Bonaventure’s performance Saturday afternoon: efficient offense, getting the most from its top player and disciplined defense.
Add catching their stride at the right time to that list.
Andrew Nicholson put an exclamation point on senior day festivities with his 21st career double-double as Bona downed the University of Rhode Island Runnin’ Rams 81-61 in Atlantic 10 play on Bob Lanier Court at the Reilly Center.
The Bonnies shot 50 percent from the field while holding the Rams under 34 percent on a day when the result never seemed in doubt.
“This was a scary game,” Bona coach Mark Schmidt said of the Rams coming in with a league mark of 2-10. “Rhode Island had nothing to lose. They’re a talented team, and we knew we need to play our best in order to win today. Our best player played his very best.”
Nicholson led as the Bonnies dished out nine assists on their first nine field goals en route to 30-12 lead .
Matthew Wright and Nicholson combined twice. Wright took advantage of a two-on-one situation and dished to Nicholson under the basket for two. Two possessions later, Wright found Nicholson early in the break for a three from the top.
After a URI timeout, Eric Mosley stole a pass and went the length of the floor and fed Youssou Ndoye for a thunderous two-handed slam and 22-9 score.
Chris Johnson dropped off a pass to Wright on the break for an open trey. Nicholson stepped back on a wing ball screen, and Demitrius Conger obliged for the deuce and an 18-point lead.
SBU stretched the lead to 25 when Charlon Kloof pulled up in transition for a 43-18 lead.
“It was senior day,” Nicholson noted. “It was one of the last times I’ll play here, so I wanted to go out on a good note.”
The pre-season A-10 co-conference player-of-the-year put his full arsenal on display for the Bona faithful, finishing around the basket, using his mid-range game and stepping behind the arc and hitting his two attempts from long range.
“They weren’t doubling me at first,” Nicholson noted. “So I got more comfortable.”
Nicholson score a game-high 32 on 12-15 from the field including the 2-2 behind the arc along with 13 rebounds and 6-7 shooting from the free throw line.
“I was happy with the win,” Nicholson reflected.
“It was a great day for Bonaventure basketball,” Schmidt added.
Despite stringing together baskets in the second stanza, the youthful Rams never closed the gap to single digits.
Nikola Malesevic scored six straight after the break. The junior forward knocked down a pair of free throws before hitting a pull up jumper just outside the lane. On the next trip, Malesevic was fouled on a rebound and putback attempt. After two from the charity stripe, URI trailed 59-45.
But the Brown and White returned the favor. Ndoye ducked in, took a pass from Wright and hit a jump hook in the lane. Next trip, Wright penetrated the lane and kicked to an open Eric Mosley for a catch-and-shoot three. Mosley made it a 20-point game again when he hit three from the free throw line.
“We knew it was going to be a real emotional day,” URI coach Jim Baron said of senior day. “They stepped up and made big shots and big plays.”
The Rams start three freshmen and one sophomore.
The Bonnies handed out 18 assists on 25 field goals. Wright dished out a game-high eight without a turnover. The sophomore came off the bench for the first time since early December.
“He played extremely well,” Schmidt said of Wright. “That’s what we need from Matthew.”
The Bonnies outrebounded URI 36-32. Conger’s seven boards was next in line behind Nicholson’s game-high total.
Conger also chipped in 10 points.
Mike Powell led URI with 20 points. Malesevic added 14.
With his 32 points, Nicholson increased his career total to 1,907.
With the win, SBU improves to 7-5 in conference play and sits in a three-way tie for fifth. Three days after taking first-place Temple to the final minute of play, the Bonnies responded with a near flawless performance in the first half. They travel to Fordham (2-10) Wednesday before ending the week at Charlotte (4-8). Bona returns home a week from Wednesday for a tilt with St. Joseph’s (8-5), and the possibility of fourth-place hanging in the balance.
The top four teams in the conference earn a first-round bye in next month’s A-10 tournament.
Rhode Island falls to 2-11 and 5-23.
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