First thoughts after the Canisius Golden Griffins defeated Boston University in non-conference action at the Koessler Athletic Center.
By PAUL GOTHAM
BUFFALO, N.Y. — How it happened
Phil Valenti drilled back-to-back three-pointers and scored eight straight as Canisius grabbed a double-digit lead early in the first half. After opening the scoring with a rebound and putback, Valenti connected on his first attempt from behind the arc with 9:42 to go in the first half. The junior forward followed with another triple 21 seconds later. The Griffs stretched the lead to 20 with less than a minute remaining in the half when Malcolm McMillan completed a three-point play for a 42-22 lead. Canisius led by 19 going in to the locker room. Boston University cut the lead to eight in the second half but could never get any closer.
Balance, balance and more balance
The Griffs scored 24 points (8-of-24) behind the arc and 26 in the paint. Twenty-nine Canisius points came off turnovers while 20 happened on second-chance opportunities. Thirty points came from the free throw line, and the bench accounted for 21. Ten Griffs saw action in the game. All ten scored – four in double figures. Eight different guys grabbed rebounds. Six handed out assists, and five players had steals.
The usual suspects
Valenti hit 6-of-11 from the floor and and all six of his charity tosses for a game-high 21. The junior forward has now topped the 20-point mark in three of the last four games. McMillan finished the game 4-of-9 from the floor and 12-of-15 from the free throw line for 20 points. The duo came into the game averaging a combined 34.2.
Malcolm’s block
BU’s Eric Fanning took off for an open-floor tomahawk when McMillan caught up to him from behind and was able to get his hand between the ball and cylinder to prevent the bucket. More on this later. The graduate student finished with four rebounds, a game-high four assists, three steals and two blocks.
Cleaning windows
Canisius outrebounding the Terriers 41-28 is one thing. Grabbing 21 offensive rebounds? The Griffs came into the contest averaging 15.2 offensive boards per game.
“We’re playing with a lot more grit and moxie,” Canisius coach Jim Baron said. “We’re going to bottle that and take it on the road.”
Relentless Reynolds
Jamal Reynolds came into the game third in the MAAC averaging 7.7. boards and fourth in the country with 4.6 rebounds on the offensive end. The senior grabbed 12 caroms Saturday and four on the offensive glass.
Looking to finish
After allowing just 24 points in the first half, the Griffs surrendered 44 in the second stanza.
“We got to make two halves out of it,” Valenti said.
Disputing the transitive theory
Last time out, Boston U defeated Quinnipiac on the road, 64-57. Quinnipiac came into the KAC and knocked off Canisius 78-76 on December fifth. A season-ending injury to Boston’s Cedric Hankerson played a role. Hankerson scored 10 a game for BU. The win stopped a three-game slide for Canisius. Four of the Griffs six losses have come by single digits.
Next up
Canisius heads to Las Vegas on Tuesday to play the University of Louisiana-Monroe in the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic. Boston hosts New Hampshire on Monday.
Other MAAC games:
Rhode Island 79 Iona 74 OT
Deyshonee Much scored a career-high in the loss. Read more.
No. 21 George Washington 87 Saint Peter’s 74
Trevis Wyche netted a career-high 26 in defeat. Read more.
No. 14 Providence 73 Rider 65
Jimmie Taylor chipped in five points during a late 12-4 run, but the Broncs could not overcome the Friars. Read more.
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