Bonnies start A-10 tourney with commanding win over Duquesne in quarters

By Ray Floriani (@rfloriani)

For St. Bonaventure and Duquesne, it’s been a battle when the two meet, with ten of the last dozen meetings between the Bonnies and Dukes decided by seven points or less.

Friday’s Atlantic 10 tournament quarterfinal was not to be one of those proverbial white-knucklers.

The Bonnies opened a 40-19 halftime lead, got a second-half challenge and regrouped en route to a 75-59 victory over the Dukes. The game at VCU’s Siegel Center puts the Bonnies (14-4) in Saturday’s semifinals against Saint Louis, who ended UMass’ run Friday afternoon.

The first four minutes of the game saw Duquesne forge a brief 7-6 lead. For St. Bonaventure there was a good sign amid the early deficit, as Osun Osunniyi established himself as an offensive threat. As the early part of the first half wore on, the center drew two defenders, allowing his teammates to seize the offensive opportunity.

“It’s easier for my teammates to make shots when we go inside-out,” Osunniyi said. “When I’m double-teamed, I’m always willing to pass the ball back out.” 

For the game, the big man made a few shots of his own, matching Dominick Welch with 18 points while adding 14 rebounds and six assists.

Having expended energy in a big come from behind win over Richmond 24 hours ago, Duquesne might have been sapped of some of that defensive energy in the early going. Head coach Keith Dambrot did not totally agree, chalking it up to a case of immaturity. 

“We did not come out ready to play,” Dambrot said. “Our energy level the first half was pitiful. Our guys fought back the second half, but it’s hard to come back against a good team like that.”

Michael Hughes and Marcus Weathers, Duquesne’s primary offensive options, combined for 2-of-10 shooting from the floor in first half. For the game Hughes, by virtue of a better second half, led the Dukes with 15 points. Weathers scored just six and in total, they combined for 7-of-21 shooting.

“Our guys did a good job on Weathers and Hughes,” Bonnies head coach Mark Schmidt said. “All year, our focus has been on defense and rebounding.”

For the game, the Bonnies outrebounded a physical Duquesne team, 40-36.

Schmidt has often said teams will make a run. It’s how you handle them and adjust that makes the difference. Duquesne came out strong and got the deficit to single digits just before the midway point of the second half. The Bonnies regrouped, went on a run of their own and were never challenged in the stretch.

“Basketball is a game of runs,” Welch said. “We’ve handled situations like this in the past.”

Added Osunniyi: “We are a veteran team and know what to do when a team makes a run.

Schmidt felt it was some early second half complacency. 

“We lost focus with a big lead,” he said. “Duquesne upped the pressure. We just had to settle down. We got stops and got refocused, and our guys pushed it back out to a 16-point lead.”

St. Bonaventure’s loss to Dayton on Monday may have been an advantage. 

“The loss to Dayton gave us a reminder,” Osunniyi said. “It forced us to refocus and we did.” 

Schmidt said the Dayton game was a situation where his club played very stagnant. 

“Today was different,” he said. “We had ball and player movement. We need that, because when you’re moving, it doesn’t allow the defense to get set.”

Schmidt was asked if this win secures an NCAA Tournament bid, a hot topic with the Bonnies squarely on the bubble if they do not secure the A-10 autobid. 

“Your guess is as good as mine,” he said. “We worry about one game. We win tomorrow and win at Dayton, then we control our own destiny. Our preparation today was about 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Control those two hours and beat Duquesne. If you worry about other things, you lose.”