Bonnies fall to UMass in double-OT
Jan. 26, 2005
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - The heartbreak continues for St. Bonaventure.
On a pulsating night at the Reilly Center that went 10 extra minutes before the outcome was decided, Massachusetts stuck another dagger into the Bonnies' season, taking an 82-78 double overtime win from St. Bonaventure.
Down 78-75 with 43 seconds left in the second overtime, Bonnies junior guard Wade Dunston drove for a layin and was fouled by UMass guard Art Bowers. Dunston tied the game at 78 on the ensuing free-throw, but Rashaun Freeman's layin with 28 seconds left gave UMass the lead for good. Following a controversial no-call on a drive by junior guard Ahmad Smith and a missed three by Dunston, Maurice Maxwell sealed the win for the Minutemen with a pair of free throws with 12 ticks left.
"It hurts for all of us. We play to win and it just has not fallen our way," said St. Bonaventure coach Anthony Solomon, whose club fell to 1-16 overall and remained winless in the Atlantic 10 at 0-6. "Tonight was another experience to grow from. We put ourselves in a position to win, but it did not fall our way."
In the first overtime, was Smith was fouled with 42 seconds left and converted both shots to give the Bonnies a 67-65 lead. UMass forward Stephane Lasme answered by making two free throws after a Dunston foul with 21 seconds left. Smith's fadeaway jumper with two seconds left fell short.
The drama of the two overtimes overshadowed a back-and-forth regulation. The Bonnies fell behind 18-8 in the first 11 minutes of the game. But, sparked by a three-pointer from Smith, St. Bonaventure went on a 18-6 run to take a 26-24 lead at the 3:33 mark. The Bonnies allowed UMass only field goal over the final 7:28, sending the crowd of 3,581 to its feet in several standing ovations. Back to back three-pointers from Smith and junior forward Patrick Lottin gave the Bonnies a 36-26 advantage at halftime.
However, UMass opened the second half with a 17-5 run to erase the Bonnies' cushion. Lasme's dunk at the 13:10 mark gave the Minutemen a 43-41 advantage. Over the next 2:03, the Bonnies scored seven unanswered points and went ahead 48-43 on a layin by freshman forward Michael Lee.
With 2:18 left in regulation, Freeman converted a traditional three-point play to give his club a 60-57 lead. But Dunston buried an off-balance three-pointer with 16 seconds to play that forced overtime as the Bonnies' defense allowed UMass only a desperation shot.
On the night, the Bonnies shot a solid 46 percent (31-67) from the field and 43 percent (9-21) from long range. UMass hit for 49 percent (26-53) overall, including 32 percent (6-19) from three-point range. The Minutemen enjoyed a huge advantage at the free throw line, where they went 24-32 (.750) as compared to 7-9 for the Bonnies. UMass attempted 23 free throws in the second half and the overtimes.
Dunston led all scorers with a season-high 28 points, including 18 after halftime, on 11-18 from the field. He also chipped three assists and five rebounds. Smith, who played all 50 minutes, poured in 21 points, handed out eight assists and grabbed a team-high seven boards. Lottin finished with 10 points and pulled down five rebounds.
"Ahmad Smith ... what numbers tonight. Twenty-one points, seven rebounds, eight assists, and only one turnover," said Solomon. "He's playing so well and continues to be a leader for us. And Wade's taken his game to another level since A-10 play began. He hit some really big shots tonight."
Senior forward Saulius Dumbliauskas, who played a career-high 40 minutes as Yankuba Camara fouled out midway through the second half, finished with six points and six rebounds and played admirable defense against Freeman, a 6-9 all-conference candidate. Lee totaled eight points.
"A very exciting basketball game," Solomon said. "This group of young men makes me proud tonight with their consistent effort to improve. I am extremely proud of them."
UMass had four players in double-figures, led by Maxwell with 20, while Freeman and Lasme added 18 apiece. Lasme ripped down a game-high 10 rebounds, while Freeman finished with seven. Guard Chris Chadwick chipped in 10 points and four assists.
The Minutemen improved to 8-7 on the season and 4-3 in conference action. Three of their four conference wins have come in overtime.
"(St. Bonaventure) has struggled but they played great tonight," said UMass coach Steve Lappas. "We made every play we needed to make."
St. Bonaventure will host Temple this Saturday at 7:00.
NOTES
- This was St. Bonaventure's first double OT game since the 2000 NCAA Tournament thriller against Kentucky in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Bonnies' first OT game this season.
- The Reilly Center crowd received a big and vocal boost from the return of the Bona students, who numbered around 400.
- Sophomore forward Brian Gibbs missed his fourth straight game. He continues to recover from a viral infection.
