St. Bonaventure out runs LaSalle, 87-73, for second A-10 win
Jan. 21, 2007
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - Those who say that basketball is a game of runs need no more proof than Sunday's game at the Reilly Center.
In a game that saw three major momentum swings, St. Bonaventure overcame an 11-point deficit with a dominating second half performance and defeated LaSalle 87-73. It was the Bonnies' second Atlantic 10 win of the year and snapped a three-game losing streak.
The Bonnies trailed 50-39 with 15:51 remaining in the game, but used a 14-2 run over the next 3:44 to regain a 53-52 lead.
With 8:39 on the clock and St. Bonaventure leading 61-60, the Brown and White pulled away with a 22-7 run to take their largest lead of the game, 83-67.
Bonnies outscored the Explorers 52-32 in the second half, and the 87 points was the second-most scored by St. Bonaventure this season.
"I am really proud of our team because of the poise they showed today," said St. Bonaventure coach Anthony Solomon. "We weathered the storm and played with passion in the second half."
Senior center Paul Williams played a major role in the Bona comeback, tallying 16 of his team-high 20 points in the second half. He went 8-9 from the field and 4-4 at the free throw line. His 10 rebounds gave Williams his sixth double-double of the season, and he also dished out a career-high five assists over 39 minutes of work.
"That's production by the big fella," Solomon said of Williams. "He deserves this kind of a day because he works hard."
Defense and rebounding keyed the Bonnies' effort. After a second half in which the Bonnies were out-rebounded 26-11, St. Bonaventure came back to grab 18 rebounds to LaSalle's 14 in the second half. The Bonnies held LaSalle to 14-34 shooting (41 percent) in the second half including a 1-10 mark from three-point range. By contrast, St. Bonaventure made 18 of its 26 shots (70 percent) in the second half. The Bonnies also forced 16 turnovers and only committed nine.
St. Bonaventure seemingly had control from the start of the game, as the Bona guards set a quick offensive tempo and the defense forced La Salle into nine first-half turnovers. The Bonnies cruised to an 11-point lead of their own, 35-24, with 5:15 remaining until halftime. However, the momentum shifted. The Explorers took advantage as St. Bonaventure did not make a shot in the final 5:15, and LaSalle grabbed a 41-35 halftime lead. LaSalle's run to close the half was 17-0.
La Salle then scored the first four points of the second half to take a 45-35 lead at the 17:54 mark. After a three-pointer by Darnell Harris gave La Salle a 50-39 lead, the Bonnies - behind seven points from junior forward Michael Lee - used a 12-2 run to pull back to within one point, 52-51. Williams sank a pair of free throws to put St. Bonaventure on top for good.
Five players finished in double figures for the winners. Lee tallied 19 points, while sophomore forward A.J. Hawkins and junior guard Zarryon Fereti both scored 14 and junior guard Tyler Relph 11.
Harris led all scorers with 23 points.
St. Bonaventure improved to 5-13 overall and 2-3 in the Atlantic 10 Conference while La Salle dropped to 8-11 on the year and 1-4 in the A-10.
The Bonnies return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 24, when they host Xavier at the Reilly Center at 7 p.m.
GAME NOTES
- St. Bonaventure's 70 percent shooting in the second half was their top figure in a half this season by nearly 10 percent.
- The 52 points scored by the Bonnies in the second half were the most they scored in a half this season.
- This was the first time of the season that St. Bonaventure had five players score in double figures.
- The 14 point margin of victory was the highest of Bona's five wins this season - the previous best was nine over Alcorn State.
- The Bonnies' 21 assists were a season high and the best by St. Bonaventure since a 20-assist night at Niagara on Nov. 21, 2005.
- The win snapped the Bonnies' four-game losing streak to LaSalle. They all-time series between the schools is now 9-8 favor LaSalle.
