ATLANTIC CITY, NJ — Four remain. A spot in Sunday’s final is on the line. Pickin’ Splinters is court side with news, notes, updates and analysis. Grab a seat on the Pine and join in the discussion.
#4 St. Bonaventure and #8 UMass tip off Saturday’s semi-finals.
Jesse Morgan scored 21 points and Chaz Williams had 20 to lead Massachusetts to a 77-71 win over Temple (No. 24 ESPN/USA Today, No. 21 AP) on Friday, advancing to the Atlantic 10 tournament semifinals. Andrew Nicholson had 25 points and 10 rebounds, and Charlon Kloof scored 19 to lead St. Bonaventure to a 71-68 win over Saint Joseph’s.
UMass leads the all-time series 40-19. That includes margins of 21-8 in Amherst, 14-12 at the Reilly Center and 2-1 in three Atlantic 10 Tournament games in Philadelphia. UMass has won two of the three overtime games in the series – all of which have been played in New York. The series dates back to the 1980-81 season when the Bonnies claimed both meetings – 97-79 in Amherst and 104-80 in St. Bonaventure. SBU won nine of the first 16 meetings before UMass reeled off 17-consecutive wins from 1989-96. The Bonnies won seven of 10 from 97-01 and UMass has since owned an 11-3 edge dating back the 2001 A-10 Tournament.
| TEAM STATISTICS |
UMASS |
OPP |
| SCORING |
2453 |
2289 |
| Points per game |
76.7 |
71.5 |
| Scoring margin |
+5.1 |
– |
| FIELD GOALS-ATT |
873-2014 |
787-1936 |
| Field goal pct |
.433 |
.407 |
| 3 POINT FG-ATT |
257-724 |
212-682 |
| 3-point FG pct |
.355 |
.311 |
| 3-pt FG made per game |
8.0 |
6.6 |
| FREE THROWS-ATT |
450-666 |
503-729 |
| Free throw pct |
.676 |
.690 |
| F-Throws made per game |
14.1 |
15.7 |
| REBOUNDS |
1256 |
1243 |
| Rebounds per game |
39.2 |
38.8 |
| Rebounding margin |
+0.4 |
– |
| ASSISTS |
509 |
469 |
| Assists per game |
15.9 |
14.7 |
| TURNOVERS |
484 |
544 |
| Turnovers per game |
15.1 |
17.0 |
| Turnover margin |
+1.9 |
– |
| Assist/turnover ratio |
1.1 |
0.9 |
| STEALS |
285 |
239 |
| Steals per game |
8.9 |
7.5 |
| BLOCKS |
156 |
127 |
| Blocks per game |
4.9 |
4.0 |
| WINNING STREAK |
3 |
– |
| Home win streak |
3 |
– |
| ATTENDANCE |
68471 |
65770 |
| Home games-Avg/Game |
16-4279 |
11-5145 |
| Neutral site-Avg/Game |
– |
5-1834 |
| Score by periods |
1st |
2nd |
OT |
Total |
| Massachusetts |
1164 |
1272 |
17 |
2453 |
| Opponents |
1101 |
1166 |
22 |
2289 |
TEAM STATISTICS SBU OPP
————————————————–
SCORING…………….. 2040 1879
Points per game……. 70.3 64.8
Scoring margin…….. +5.6 –
FIELD GOALS-ATT……… 699-1524 649-1549
Field goal pct…….. .459 .419
3 POINT FG-ATT………. 155-456 168-513
3-point FG pct…….. .340 .327
3-pt FG made per game. 5.3 5.8
FREE THROWS-ATT……… 487-641 413-581
Free throw pct…….. .760 .711
F-Throws made per game 16.8 14.2
REBOUNDS……………. 1030 866
Rebounds per game….. 35.5 29.9
Rebounding margin….. +5.7 –
ASSISTS…………….. 397 360
Assists per game…… 13.7 12.4
TURNOVERS…………… 416 373
Turnovers per game…. 14.3 12.9
Turnover margin……. -1.5 –
Assist/turnover ratio. 1.0 1.0
STEALS……………… 168 199
Steals per game……. 5.8 6.9
BLOCKS……………… 118 77
Blocks per game……. 4.1 2.7
ATTENDANCE………….. 51035 89692
Home games-Avg/Game… 13-3926 14-5491
Neutral site-Avg/Game. – 2-6412
SCORE BY PERIODS: 1st 2nd OT OT2 Total
——————– —- —- —- —- —-
St. Bonaventure….. 1018 982 26 14 – 2040
Opponents……….. 863 987 20 9 – 1879
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UMass Probable Starters as we are just minutes from tip-off:
Chaz Williams
Jesse Morgan
Raphiael Putney
Terrell Vinson
Sean Carter
Bonnies starters are:
Andrew Nicholson
Da’Quan Cook
Demitrius Conger
Charlon Kloof
Jordan Gathers
We have our first media timeout.
Both teams have come out shooting the ball very well. Both teams are at 60% clip right now.
Fouls are starting to appear as an early problem Terrell Vinson already has two and will have to sit for the Minutemen.
Nicholson already has one foul. Yesterday, he didn’t pick up his first until the second half.
U12 Media TO:
UMass is shooting 38% from the field, but is staying in the game thanks to 4 offensive rebounds.
Bonnies are shooting 60% from the field.
Ndoye and Wright both have 2 fouls for the Bonnies.
Both of UMass’ big men are on the bench with 2. Having a tough time guarding Nicholson.
Bonnies lead 19-18.
NIcholson just picked up his second foul and will have to sit.
He leads the Bonnies with 8 pts and 2 rebounds. SBU will have to find its scoring elsewhere for the last 9 minutes of the first half.
Rebounding continues to be a problem for the Bonnies. 7 offensive rebounds by UMass that have led to 4 second chance points.
28-25, Bonnies
UMass tempo is keeping them in the game.
For now, it appears the Bonnies have withstood the UMass wave. Can the Minutemen maintain the upbeat tempo they established early?
There have been 18 fouls called and we have 3:19 to play.
There are 5 players have 2 fouls and one players has 3 fouls.
Bonnies lead 40-35
Can’t say enough about UMass redshirt freshman, Maxie Esho. At 6’8″ (and he plays bigger with his wing span) he’s a tough matchup. Can go off the dribble and hit a from the outside.
Halftime at the Boardwalk.
Fast paced second half. Bunch of guys resting for most of first half thanks to foul trouble. The pace should continue in the second half.
Can the Bonnies keep this pace up ?
SBU leads 48-41.
In their previous meeting this year, the Bonnies led UMass by 3 at the half.
A 14-0 run by UMass to start the 2nd half was the turning point of the game.
For the Bonnies to move on, the first 5 minutes of the second half will be crucial.
I don’t know if either team approaches 90 points, but man what an up and down half. Super impressive first half from Conger.
Impressive stat for the Bonnies: Zero turnovers.
That is correct – zero.
My commenting on it may amount to talking about a no-hitter in the 7th inning, so I apologize now.
You did it, Smitty! Darn!
A quick 5-0 run by UMass to start the second half and Bonnies call timeout.
The Bonnies have started the half with 3 turnovers.
48-46 Bonnies.
U16 Media TO:
Bonnies took UMass best blow early in the half, but have responded with a 7-2 run.
Bonnies have 12 assists on 21 field goals.
UMass has made more field goals (11) that Bonnies have taken (10).
Bonnies lead 55-49
Terrell Vinson has done all of the scoring for UMass in the second half.
All 9 points for UMass.
U12 Media.
UMass tried to go with a 3-2 zon, probably to take away from the penetration Bonnies are getting on offense.
Bonnies have responded with a Chris Johnson three and Kloof jumper. Both are a zone killer!
65-54 Bonnies
Go Bonnies!
A Nicholson three from the top of the key has UMass calling timeout.
UMass has now gone 5 minutes without a bucket and look tired.
Bonnies lead 70-54 with 7:20 to play.
Sharing the rock and protecting the rock.
Bonnies have 16 assists and 5 turnovers.
After hitting three of their first four from behind the arc, UMass is 3 for 14 since.
Bonnies, 70-56.
A 10-4 run by UMass has closed the gap.
UMass has definitely ramped up the pressure and the Bonnies guards appear to be having difficulty with it.
74-66 Bonnies.
Huge foul shots! Thank you, Andrew:)
Conger on the line shooting 2.
Hits one of two and Bonnies get the offensive rebound.
Bonnies lead 77-68.
A huge 3 by Chaz Williams and the lead is six, 77-71.
Bonnies had 4 FTs and came away with only one point:
Conger 1 for 2
Gathers 0 for 2
C’mon Bonnies – sorry, but I have to root for them ’cause the CBS announcers are flagrantly pro-UMass.
Having internet issues.
Williams just fouled with 18.3 seconds
Bonnies lead by 3, 81-78.
Williams hits both free throws and Bonnies now lead 81-80.
Whoa Nellie!!
This is going to be crazy finish. Bonnies will have the ball when we are back.
Bonnies are 5 of their last 11 free throws. Has let UMass back in this game.
That is 5 for 11, excuse me.
Bonnies inbound the ball and are immediately fouled. Kloof will shoot 2.
14.7 seconds left.
Kloof hits one of two.
Putney misses a 3 for UMass and Wright is fouled.
Wright hits both free throws.
Bonnies hold for a 84-80 win!!
Bonnies move on to play for the A-10 Tournament Championship
Holy Toledo! Matthew Wright! Awesome! Way to go, Bonnies:)