Courtesy of GoBonnies.com
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – On a night where the Bonnies needed a bounce back effort, they got that and then some in a dominant win over Rhode Island, 99-64, inside the Reilly Center Wednesday.
Perhaps the recent polar blast of freezing cold temperatures brought out the best in the Brown and White as they were red-hot from the opening tip.
As a result, the result of this one was decided well before the final buzzer as the Bonnies handed the Rams their first defeat in Atlantic 10 play, once again showing the potential of this squad when clicking on all cylinders.
It also marked Bona’s highest-scoring performance in regulation vs. an Atlantic 10 opponent in 44 years.
Charles Pride led the way with 25 points while Chad Venning (15), Daryl Banks III (14), Noel Brown (13) and Mika Adams-Woods (12) all scored in double figures as well.
“I thought that was the best performance we’ve had in a long time,” head coach Mark Schmidt said. “We played consistently for 40 minutes. We didn’t play well in the last two games, but I thought our guys really bounced back. They responded; they played with enthusiasm and it was a great victory for us.”
St. Bonaventure improves to 11-5 overall and 2-2 in A-10 play while Rhode Island stands 9-8, 3-1.
For the first time this season, the Bonnies moved Moses Flowers into the starting lineup and used Banks off the bench.
The new lineup sparked the Bonnies from the outset as the Bonnies seized control with perhaps its best half of the season to open the night.
Bona started the game 6-for-9 from the floor to set the tone for what was to come, grabbing a 26-12 lead in the first nine minutes in change behind 14 points from Pride and eight by Venning.
The hosts only kept rolling from there, going on a 16-3 sprint to a 31-13 advantage following the first of two treys in the half from Banks.
In the first half, the box score could not be much more lopsided: In addition to a 51-25 cushion on the scoreboard, the Bonnies outscored the Rams by a 21-0 margin off turnovers after forcing Rhody to turn it over 13 times before the break.
Bona shot the ball at nearly a 60 percent clip in the first half and held the Rams to 10-for-29 from the floor as the defense locked in, powered by a career-high six swats from Venning before intermission.
When the second half began, Jaden House drained a quick three to pull the Rams to within 22, 51-29, but Adams-Woods responded with a three of his own and Rhode Island would never again pull closer.
When all was said and done, the Bonnies shot at nearly a 58 percent clip overall, drained 11 3-pointers and were receiving loud ovations from the student section as both Melian Martinez and Broek Ostrom posted baskets in the final two minutes.
Luis Kortright led Rhody with 13 points and five assists.
Banks had one of his best games of the year in his new role, handing out a career-best seven assists while going 5-for-8 from the floor and 3-for-5 from long range.
Bona’s defense forced 20 Rhode Island turnovers while the hosts committed just six miscues themselves.
The 99 points mark the most by a Bonaventure team vs. an Atlantic 10 opponent in regulation since a 104-80 win vs. UMass at home on Jan. 5, 1980. Most recently, the Bonnies had tallied 97 points in a 97-88 win over Richmond Feb. 10, 2018, and also scored a 98-78 win over UMass Dec. 30, 2017, both at home. Wednesday’s game also marked Bona’s greatest offensive output in regulation for any game since a 102-71 victory over Central Michigan Nov. 22, 2016.
UP NEXT
The Bonnies travel to George Mason where they will take on the Patriots in Fairfax, Va. Tip time is scheduled for 2 p.m.
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