Bonnies use efficient offense to maintain perfect start

St. Bonaventure continued its strong start to the season with an 85-70 home victory over Bryant on Sunday, improving to 6-0. Graduate center and team co-captain Noel Brown led the Bonnies with 22 points and seven rebounds. Brown shot 9 for 11 from the field and 4 for 5 from the free-throw line, nearly perfect in his performance.

“It just takes a consistently aggressive mindset, but it really is bigger than me,” Brown said. “I chalk it up to my teammates. They get me in the right spots for me to succeed.”

While Brown’s efficiency stood out, it was a team effort. Six players shot over 42.9% from the field, helping the Bonnies build a 45-25 lead with just over five minutes left in the first half. St. Bonaventure’s hot shooting — 5 for 5 from beyond the arc and 16 for 21 from the field — contributed to the early 20-point advantage. However, Bryant closed the half on a 15-1 run, cutting the Bonnies’ lead to 46-40 at the break.

“We got out to a great start, up by 20, and then we went into a little bit of a funk,” St. Bonaventure coach Mark Schmidt said. “That’s something we have to try to prevent. We need more consistency, and we stopped defending for five to six minutes going into the half.”

Brown discussed the team’s defensive struggles during the break, noting that he and co-captain Melvin Council Jr. addressed the issue in the locker room.

“We just have to lock in on defense,” Brown said. “No excuses. The first half is done. Lock in on the second half. Get back out and set the defensive tone.”

Right from the tip, the Bonnies emphasized getting the ball inside to Brown. The team didn’t attempt a 3-pointer until more than five minutes into the game, focusing on exploiting their size advantage in the paint. Council, who is still adjusting to the team’s balance of up-tempo play with more methodical possessions, joked about the importance of feeding Brown in the post.

“If Noel doesn’t get his touch on every possession, he’s not going to get back and play defense for us. And we need the big man on defense,” Council said jokingly. “I’m adjusting to [the style of play], but at the end of the day, it will all work out.”

Schmidt noted that the team’s advantage in the post was a key part of the game plan.

“The advantage we had was inside with Noel,” Schmidt said. “They weren’t big or athletic, so the game plan was to get it to Noel, and he did a good job of finishing.”

Despite their inside dominance, the Bonnies were outrebounded 34-29 and gave up 14 offensive rebounds to the Bulldogs. Schmidt, frustrated by the rebounding performance, stressed the importance of improving in that area.

“We can’t get outrebounded,” Schmidt said. “It’s one of the things we take pride in. We have to do better on the boards.”

With the win, St. Bonaventure continues to build momentum early in the season, remaining undefeated at 6-0. While the Bonnies’ offensive efficiency was on full display, they know there are areas to improve.

As they look ahead, Schmidt and his players will focus on maintaining consistency, tightening up defensively, and continuing to leverage their size advantage in the paint. If they can address these areas, the Bonnies will be well-positioned for a strong season as they head into tougher matchups.

Photo Gallery: St. Bonaventure Bonnies vs. Bryant Bulldogs

Photos by Frank Debari, Mid-Major Basketball.