Photo: GoBonnies.com
BY NATHAN SOLOMON, SPORTS EDITOR
After a heartbreaking loss to Saint Louis on Friday, St. Bonaventure certainly didn’t have to play in the National Invitational Tournament. They had hoped to appear in the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive time instead. But, the team insisted on playing the NIT for potentially one last ride with the Iron Man Five.
Four days and a trip two-thirds of the way across the country later, St. Bonaventure beat Colorado, the fourth-place finisher in the PAC-12, 76-68 for the Bonnies’ third power conference victory of the season.
“Really proud of our team’s effort,” St. Bonaventure coach Mark Schmidt said. “We had a lot going against us [with] flying four hours, the altitude [and] coming off a tough loss. Give our guys credit. They couldn’t have played better.”
St. Bonaventure (21-9) wasted no time in the opening minutes and jumped out to a 10-2 lead by making four of its first five shots. Colorado (21-12) chipped away, tying the game at 23 and eventually taking a 39-36 lead into the break.
“[With] the size and athleticism that Colorado has, we attacked. We went downhill,” Schmidt said. “When we play downhill, we’re a pretty good offensive team. When we played sideline to sideline, we’re not very good. We worked downhill and we were aggressive and get some (baskets) inside.”
The Buffaloes opened the second half on a 7-0 run to go up 10, but St. Bonaventure responded to take a one-point lead with 14:49 remaining after a Jaren Holmes 3-pointer. The game stayed within one possession for nearly the rest of the game until a Kyle Lofton jumper with 67 seconds left put the Bonnies up four. Holmes and Osun Osunniyi each made a pair of free-throws in the final minute to seal an eight-point St. Bonaventure victory.
All five of the Bonnies’ starters scored in double figures, but Jalen Adaway led the way with 17 points.
“We just came out and were hungrier. We knew we left a lot on the table,” Adaway said. “It fueled us, not being able to [win the Atlantic 10 Tournament]. We translated it into today’s game playing confident, trusting our abilities, trusting our shot [and] trusting each other.”
Kyle Lofton, who missed two free-throws in the final second of Friday’s A-10 quarterfinal, scored 15 points and had eight assists. He also connected on two 3-pointers.
“Whoever we play, we want to win, no matter if it is in the NIT or the NCAA [Tournament],” Lofton said. “Whatever game we go into, we want to win that game. It shows how tough we are. Mentally, from the last game, I needed this game. My teammates knew that.”
Holmes and Osunniyi each had 13 points, while Dominick Welch had 12. The team made 10 of its 20 3-pointers and shot 53% from the field.
Keeshawn Barthelemy led Colorado with 15 points and Jabari Walker added 14. The Buffaloes shot 43% from the field and outrebounded the Bonnies 31-25.
Next up, St. Bonaventure will travel to face the Oklahoma Sooners in the second round. The game will be played at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday.
solomonj20@bonaventure.edu
