“Oh, we’re ready.”
Those were the words of St. Bonaventure forward Chance Moore the day before the Bonnies faced Dayton. He was right. It’s hard to keep up with a team that shoots 12 of 25 from 3. That was the challenge for the Flyers.
St. Bonaventure defeated Dayton 75-53 on Tuesday night in New York. Bonnies junior transfer Lajae Jones led all scorers with 23 points and seven rebounds.
Early defensive stops helped SBU take a 10-8 lead at the under-16 media timeout. They forced a couple of shot-clock violations, and Melvin Council Jr. had a key block at the rim to give the Brown and White momentum.
Then Jones took over. He helped the Bonnies (16-6, 4-5 Atlantic 10) build a 39-32 halftime lead, scoring 16 points on 5-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc in the first half. Jones didn’t stop there, opening the second half with another 3-pointer and blocking a shot on the defensive end.
“I just got the ball from my teammates, and I didn’t want to let them down,” Jones said. “If I’m not hitting shots, I feel like I’m letting them down. I can’t do that.”
Council’s contributions also played a key role in the Bonnies’ dominance after halftime. A 16-1 run to start the second half gave them a 55-36 lead at the under-12 timeout. That was a lead Council helped maintain, scoring 12 points, including eight in a span of four minutes. His performance in the second half iced the game.
“I have to make the team go,” Council said. “As a leader and captain, my mindset is to look for my teammates early on. If we can’t make shots, it’s going to be tough for us.”
Coach Mark Schmidt received the infamous championship belt, awarded to the game’s best player. Schmidt secured his 400th career win while addressing many of the flaws I’ve pointed out in previous pieces.
St. Bonaventure held Dayton (14-7, 4-4 Atlantic 10) to single-digit 3-pointers, the third time this season it has accomplished that in conference play. Additionally, SBU attempted 25 3-pointers, making 12, both of which are highs for the team in Atlantic 10 play.
Another issue for the Bonnies had been their lack of ball movement. They ranked last in the A-10 in the percentage of field goals assisted on. Council was a driving force in the playmaking department against Dayton, recording seven assists, a game-high. As a result, SBU logged their highest assist total in conference play, with 16.
“Melvin’s a baller,” Schmidt said. “He struggled against VCU, but a lot of good players do. He’s got ‘it.’ He plays with the joy of the game, and that’s why he’s good.”
In the loss to VCU, the Bonnies had an eight-point halftime lead, similar to the seven-point lead they held against Dayton on Tuesday. However, when asked about the difference between the two-second halves, Schmidt answered without hesitation.
“We were playing in the Reilly Center,” he said.
Council echoed that sentiment.
“We love our fans,” Council said. “When they show up and support us, we have to put on a show.”
Council, Jones and the team get another chance to put on a show at the Reilly Center when they face Fordham on Saturday.
