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Feb. 26, 2005

Final Stats

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - Freshman forward Bryant Dunston scored 34 points and junior guard Jermaine Anderson added 29 to power Fordham to an 87-66 win over St. Bonaventure on Saturday at the Reilly Center.

Dunston's 34 points were the second-highest total in the Atlantic 10 this season.

St. Bonaventure opened its largest lead of the day at 24-18 with 6:56 to play in the first half after a 9-0 run that was capped by three straight buckets by sophomore forward Brian Gibbs.

The Rams slowly came back and grabbed a 32-31 lead on back-to-back three-pointers by forward Kevin Anderson, the second with 3:00 left. The teams were tied at halftime, 40-40, after Dunston's layin just before the buzzer.

Fordham opened the second half with three unanswered buckets to open a 47-40 lead just 2:27 in. The lead grew to 10 at 55-45 on Jermaine Anderson's three-pointer at the 15:11 mark.

St. Bonaventure never came closer than five points after that, struggling on offense nearly the entire second half. The Bonnies made only eight of 29 shots (27 percent) in the second half.

"Our decisions on offense had the biggest impact on the outcome," said St. Bonaventure coach Anthony Solomon. "We never got into a flow in the second half and that affected our defense, too."

Junior guard Ahmad Smith continued his stellar play in the losing cause. Smith, who had averaged 21 points and nine rebounds over the three games prior to Saturday, totaled 22 points, eight rebounds and three assists against Fordham. Freshman forward Michael Lee scored 15 points, his second-highest total of the year. Gibbs and junior guard Wade Dunston finished with eight apiece for St. Bonaventure. Freshman guard Isiah Carson scored six points and handed out a season-high nine assists. Patrick Lottin, the Bonnies' second-leading scorer, was held to a single three-point field goal and committed five turnovers.

"We got quality play out of Isiah (Carson) as well as Michael (Lee)," Solomon said. "Michael is capable of doing that more often. That will come with time. They've learned through this season and will be better in the long run for it."

St. Bonaventure went 25-58 (43 percent) from the field on the game, including just 4-16 (25 percent) from long-range. Led by Dunston's 13-15 performance, Fordham shot 50 percent from the field (32-63) including 58 percent (17-29) in the second half. The Rams outrebounded the Bonnies, 39-33, highlighted by Dunston's 18 caroms.

"(Bryant Dunston) certainly is a special player," Solomon said. "He dominated on both ends on the backboard. He dictates a lot for (Fordham), but it's not him alone. His teammates find him and they stretched the floor by making long-range shots."

St. Bonaventure fell to 2-24 overall -- a school record for losses in a season -- and 1-14 in Atlantic 10 Conference play. Fordham improved to 12-13 and 8-6 in conference action, setting a school record for Atlantic 10 wins in a season.

The Bonnies are off until next Saturday, March 5, when they will visit Richmond to complete the regular season. Game time is 7:00.

Game Notes:
- Fordham snapped a four-game losing streak in the RC, posting its first win at the Reilly Center since Feb. 6, 2000. St. Bonaventure's lead in the all-time series is now 11-10.
- Seniors Saulius Dumbliauskas, Yankuba Camara and Greg Lewis were honored prior to the game in the traditional Senior Day ceremony at the Reilly Center. Each player received a Bonnies letterwinner jacket and a framed photograph of himself in action. All three started the game.
- The 40-40 halftime score marked the seventh time this season St. Bonaventure has led or been tied at the half.
- The Bonnies completed their home schedule with a mark of 1-11 at the Reilly Center.