Nov. 25, 2008

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ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - Despite scoring 23 of the game's 31 points over an eight-minute span late in the second half, the St. Bonaventure men's basketball team dropped a 76-71 heartbreaker to Mississippi State on Tuesday in front of a raucous crowd of 5,111 inside the Reilly Center.

The loss drops the Bonnies to 3-2 on the young season with their two losses coming by a combined nine points. The Bulldogs remain undefeated at 5-0.

MSU All-American candidate Jarvis Varnado turned in another huge game, accumulating 19 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks. Standing toe-to-toe with the junior was Bona freshman Andrew Nicholson, who finished with 13 points, a team-high nine boards and two blocks.

Junior Ray Blackburn came off the bench to score 22 points - the second highest total by a Bona player this season. Blackburn tallied 15 of his game-high 22 points in the first half as he went 6-of-11 from the field for the game while adding four assists. The Lackawanna, N.Y. native also hit all three of his three-point attempts and 7-of-8 from the free throw line.

Staring at the games largest deficit (15), 63-48, with 9:31 to play, the Brown and White climbed back into the game with a 13-2 run that capped with 5:37 remaining and the score 65-61. Junior Jonathan Hall sparked the run with his first four points of the game to get things started, while classmate Chris Matthews followed with back-to-back buckets. Blackburn buried his third trifecta of the game to cut it to six points, 65-59, and Hall's reverse layup made it a four-point game.

Mississippi State quickly pushed its lead back to nine, 70-61, following dunk by Varnado with just under five minutes remaining.

St. Bonaventure refused to go away as it rallied to mount a 10-1 run that ended in the fifth tie of the game at 71-71 with 1:52 to play. Jonathan Hall scored four points during the run to give him 10 points over a six-minute span after being held scoreless the opening 32 minutes. Matthews tied the game on a three-ball, his second of the game.

After each team had an empty possession, Mississippi State's Twany Beckham sank 1-of-2 at the free throw line to give the visitor's a slight 72-71 edge. It would be a lead they'd never relinquish as Ravern Johnson's put-back with 18 seconds to go made it a full possession game at 74-71.

The Bonnies had one last crack to tie the game, but sophomore Malcolm Eleby's three from the right corner hit the back of the rim and the rebound went to the Bulldogs.

Nicholson was just one rebound shy of his second straight double-double.

Both teams committed over 20 fouls in an ultra-aggressive game on both ends. Mississippi State benefited by making 21-of-27 from the charity stripe, while the Bonnies connected on just 61 percent (14-23) from the line.

For the game, the Bulldogs held a 46-36 edge on the glass, including 18 on the offensive end. MSU's 18 rebounds helped it overcome season-worst 24 turnovers.

Four players finished in double figures, led by Blackburn and Nicholson. Hall and Matthews also reached the double-digit plateau with 10 points apiece.

Johnson was the only other Bulldog in double figures with 18 points and seven rebounds.

Trailing 8-3, in the early going, St. Bonaventure ripped off a 7-0 run to take its first lead of the game at 10-8 just under five minutes into the game. Blackburn provided the early spark off the bench, sinking a pull-up jumper and a three-pointer to start the run.

The two teams traded baskets over the next four minutes, resulting in an 18-18. The Bulldogs created the first real separation with an 8-0 spurt that was finished off by a three-pointer by Riley Benock with 9:56 remaining.

Again, it was Blackburn shooting the Brown and White back into the game. The junior point guard started a 7-0 run with a pair of free throws and drilled his second trifecta of the half to bring the Bonnies within one, at 26-25.

The Mississippi State lead grew as large as six, 36-30, but the Bonnies scored the final four points of the first frame to make it a 36-34 game at the break. St. Bonaventure was plagued by 12 first half fouls that resulted in the Bulldogs shooting a perfect 11-of-11 from the free throw line.

St. Bonaventure will be back in action on Saturday, November 29, when it takes on Big 4 rival Canisius at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, N.Y. The Brown and White's game against the Griffs will conclude a hectic six-game opening month of the season.