BY TOM SEIPP, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF,
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Through the first four games for the #22 St. Bonaventure Bonnies, there has been a recurring theme: have an abomination of a first half, but then dominate the final 10 minutes to secure a victory.
In Charleston on Friday, that theme continued, somehow.
After another rough first 20 minutes for the Bonnies, St. Bonaventure was able to secure a 68-65 comeback victory over Clemson in an instant classic in the semifinal of the Charleston Classic.
“We didn’t play well to begin the game. The first half we really struggled,” head coach Mark Schmidt said. “We were happy to be down 10 at halftime with the way we played… Give our guys credit. Proud of our effort.”
It was an ugly first half for the team in brown, as Clemson led by 10 at the break. It was the third time the undefeated Bonnies were losing at the halftime break this season. The Bonnies shot 10-for-32 from the field in the first 20 minutes, including only knocking down four of their 12 shots from beyond the arc.
But, it was the three point shooting that got the Bonnies – and their fans – back into it.
St. Bonaventure knocked down 10 three pointers in the second half, shooting 59% from the field in the second half. It was a big 16-0 run that propelled the Bonnies in front.
“We shot the ball well,” Schmidt said of the second half. “I thought our defense got better in the second half. They missed some shots, we didn’t play perfectly. But, the effort was there. There wasn’t any panic in our guys.”
Bonaventure’s biggest threat was PJ Hall, who finished with 22 points for the Tigers.
“Hall’s really difficult to guard inside and out because if you double team him they have four guys who can shoot the ball,” Schmidt said.
Kyle Lofton and Jaren Holmes were unconscious from three-point land in the second half, combining to shoot 8-for-9 from beyond the arc; they combined for 22 in the second half.
Lofton only shot 24% from three a year ago. In the first three games, Lofton was just 1-for-9 from distance. Friday he changed that narrative, as his four three pointers in the second half were clutch.
“I was definitely confident,” Lofton said on his second half shooting. “I’m one of those shooters that when I see the ball go into the basket, it gets bigger.
Jalen Adaway was big for the Bonnies, finishing with 14 points. Welch had nine points on three three pointers and Osunniyi logged four points and seven rebounds in 37 minutes.
It was another TD Arena packed with Bonaventure fans, as the Bonaventure faithful outnumbered Clemson’s, even in the Tigers’ home state.
“The Bona faithful, they got us through it again. They’re the best fanbase in the country, we need them every game,” Holmes said. “Every game is a home game for us, it just feels like that.”
St. Bonaventure will now advance to the Charleston Classic Championship Game to take on either Marquette or West Virginia. The game will be Sunday at 7:30 on ESPN.
seipptw19@bonaventure.edu & @Tom_Seipp
