By CHUCKIE MAGGIO
The St. Bonaventure Bonnies recorded more rebounds than points at Duquesne on Wednesday and shot just 28.6 percent (20-of-70). This season, that kind of anemic offense usually results in a loss.
Matter of fact, that kind of offense tends to result in a loss in anyseason: SBU previously shot under 30 percent just twice since 2010, losing both games. The Bonnies did not make a field goal in the last 2:35 of the contest.
Luckily for the Bonnies, Wednesday was a defensive struggle where they happened to have the best defensive player on the court. Osun Osunniyi grabbed 22 rebounds, tied for sixth-most in a game in program history. The freshman also blocked six shots, one shy of his season and career high.
Osunniyi’s final block was his most important of the season as he swatted Dukes guard Sincere Carry with seven seconds left on what would have been the go-ahead basket. Dom Welch got the rebound and was fouled, made one of two foul shots and Eric Williams missed a three-pointer for Duquesne at the buzzer. The Bonnies survived 51-49 at the Palumbo Center.
Bona improved to 9-13, 5-4 in the Atlantic 10. Duquesne dropped to 15-8, 6-4 in the conference.
Here are some takeaways from the game, with a strong Osunniyi theme:
Player of the Game: Osun Osunniyi, St. Bonaventure. Osunniyi’s 22 rebounds were a Bonaventure freshman record. Only Bob Lanier, Andrew Nicholson and John Connors have collected more boards in a Bona uniform. Osunniyi also regained the A-10’s block lead from Dukes center Michael Hughes.
Honorable mention: Kyle Lofton, St. Bonaventure (16 points on 7-of-15 shooting), Dom Welch (10 points, seven rebounds)
Stat of the Game: Osunniyi is the 13th Division I player with 20 or more rebounds and five or more blocks in a game since 2010 and the first since Louisiana forward Shawn Long in 2016. Notable names on the list: current Toronto Raptor Pascal Siakam and current Houston Rocket Kenneth Faried.
Stretch of the Game: Tape of the final minute won’t go to Springfield, Mass. for the Naismith Hall of Fame as only one point was scored, but the waning moments decided the game. Trailing 50-49, Duquesne had two chances to take the lead. Marcus Weathers missed a layup with 46 seconds left, then Carry was blocked by Osunniyi. Welch only made one of two foul shots after corralling the rebound, but Williams’s desperation three at the buzzer did not fall.
A-10 Standing Implications: The Bonnies have won three of their last four and are 5-4 in the league with nine regular season games left. They currently sit eighth in the A-10 Tournament picture, two games behind Dayton for fourth place (with Dayton holding the head-to-head tiebreaker).
Leave a Reply