By Carson Hayek, Sports Staffer
RICHMOND, Va. — The St. Bonaventure University men’s basketball team fell to the University of Richmond 99-94 on Saturday night at the Robins Center, missing a chance to climb the Atlantic 10 standings.
Bonaventure scored a season-high 94 points, but allowed a season-worst 99. Bonnies assistant coach Nick Schmidt said the Bonnies need to do a better job defensively.
“We have to get stops at the end,” Schmidt said. “We have to find a way to make plays down the stretch. Teams have found ways to do that against us. That’s what’s been the difference in these games. If we have a chance to come back at the end of the season, we have to get stops when we need to.”
Four minutes in, both squads traded shots in a 12-12 tie. The Bonnies then outscored the Spiders 15-8 with five different scorers for the next seven minutes to earn a 27-20 advantage.
In the final nine minutes of the first half, Richmond edged out Bonaventure 23-19, with 11 points coming from freshman guard Aidan Argabright, to cut their deficit to 46-44 at halftime.
In the second half, Richmond burst past the Bonnies with a 14-6 run in the opening four minutes and earned a 58-52 lead.
For the next four minutes, Bonaventure used three 3-pointers in a 16-7 surge, regaining the lead, 68-65.
The lead lasted just over a minute as Richmond went on a 12-3 swing, to go back in front, 77-70.
With four minutes remaining, Bonnies junior guard and leading scorer Darryl “Buddy” Simmons scored his 23rd point of the night, cutting the Bonnies’ deficit to 87-84.
The Spiders did not make a field goal in the final three minutes; however, the Bonnies could not get closer than four points the rest of the game.
The Bonnies drop to 14-13 (3-11, A-10) while Richmond advances to 15-13 (5-10, A-10).
The Bonnies host the University of Rhode Island on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m., while Richmond visits Loyola Chicago on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 4 p.m.
For the Bonnies to mathematically avoid having to play in round one of the Atlantic 10 Tournament, they will need to win over Rhode Island. Schmidt finished by talking about the importance of the next game.
“The next one is the most important; we have to get this one.”
Leave a Reply