Photo: St. Bonaventure Athletics
BY: ANDREW HALE, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The St. Bonaventure men’s basketball team hosts Le Moyne College Saturday afternoon, returning home from a two-game road trip.
The Dolphins (1-3, 0-0 NEC) enter Saturday’s matchup coming off a 90-49 loss to reigning national champion No. 3 University of Connecticut Wednesday. The Bonnies (3-0, 0-0 A-10) return home to the Reilly Center after sweeping Canisius University and Florida Gulf Coast University on the road.
To begin the season, Bonaventure has won each of their first six halves for the first time since 2013-14, according to Chuckie Maggio, ESPN stats and information researcher. The team has also scored at least 70 points in each of their first three wins for the first time since 1992-93, per Maggio.
This season also marks the first 3-0 start for the Bonnies since 2021-22.
In the Bonnies’ first three games, the team has shot 45% from the field and 28% from 3-point range whilst giving up 41% and 36%, respectively.
“Every day, we’re trying to come to practice and get better and then try to carry that over to the game and improve in all those areas,” Bonaventure head coach Mark Schmidt said. “Higher percentage shooting offensively, lower percentage shooting defensively, rebounding the ball at a higher rate, all those things. Everything that it takes to be successful.”
Chance Moore has been the highest scorer and rebounder for the Bonnies, leading the team in points and rebounds in all three games.
“[Moore] has great athletic ability, and he’s playing well, but he has a whole two or three levels to go,” Schmidt said. “He’s gifted… but he’s got to do a lot of that blue-collar stuff. He’s doing it, he understands that, and he’s getting better at those areas, but there’s room for improvement.”
Le Moyne enters the game, shooting 45% from the field and 32% from three. The Dolphins are led by senior guard Will Amica who’s averaging 11 points per game while shooting 44% from the field to begin the season.
“They got really good shooters,” Schmidt said. “Once they hit [threes], they’re a hard team to guard. There’s a five-out mentality, and all five guys can shoot. That just tells you the strength of the team.”
Tipoff is set for 4:00 p.m. and will air live on ESPN+ and YES Network. Radio listeners can tune into the game via the Bonnies Online Network.
halea22@bonaventure.edu
