Heartbreaking Finale: Rally Falls Just Short Against Saint Louis, 73-68

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Saint Louis lit up the scoreboard from beyond the arc Wednesday night at Chaifetz Arena, just managing to fend off a furious comeback attempt, ending St. Bonaventure’s eight-game winning run with a 73-68 outcome in Atlantic 10 play.

At one moment as the game progressed, it appeared the Billikens would overpower the match, leading by 16 with 4:30 remaining.

The Bonnies, however, did not concede easily, executing an 11-1 surge to narrow the gap to two possessions, 66-60, with 90 seconds left on the clock.

Bona continued to gain ground, with a pair of free throws by Chance Moore bringing the score to 66-62 as the clock approached one minute.

Robbie Avila sprinted down the lane for an old-fashioned three-point play just as the shot clock was dwindling, providing the Billikens with a crucial shift in momentum.

Trailing by six, Lajae Jones brought Bona within a single possession with a three-pointer from the corner and 11.3 seconds remaining on the clock.

Gibson Jimerson maneuvered through a Bonnies trap, drew a foul, and converted both free throws successfully.

It was appropriate that Jimerson ultimately halted the Bona comeback, considering he had been a persistent challenge for the Bonnies throughout the game, finishing with a game-high 28 points.

Moore registered a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds, leading the Bonnies. Noel Brown achieved 16 points by hitting 8-of-11 from the floor, along with seven rebounds.

Nonetheless, Bona struggled to contain Jimerson, who completed the game with six three-pointers.

The Bonnies (14-2, 2-1 A-10) commenced the game on fire, scoring seven of their first eight field goal attempts.

Sadly for Bona, Saint Louis matched that pace remarkably well, particularly from long range, hitting five of seven three-pointers before the second media timeout.

As the half progressed, things grew cold for the visitors, however.

St. Bonaventure went without points for the last four minutes of the half while the Billikens took command with a 15-2 run, leading SLU to a 34-28 advantage at halftime.

SLU’s lead quickly expanded to 10 as the second half commenced, but the Bonnies clawed back within four before Jimerson extended the lead back to 11 with a deep shot.

Saint Louis concluded the game with 13 three-pointers, highlighting a notable statistical difference.

The Bonnies maintained a 44-24 edge in the paint and outperformed the Billikens on the boards, 38-28.

Isaiah Swope also contributed 16 points for SLU (10-6, 3-0), while Avila recorded 14 points and nine rebounds.

GAME NOTES

• Moore achieved his fourth double-double of the season.
• SLU attempted 17 of their initial 22 field goal attempts from long range.
• The Billikens’ 15-2 run dominated the last 5:45 of the first half, while the Bonnies struggled at 1-for-9 shooting before the break.
• SLU has now won the last four encounters in the series, leading the all-time matchup against the Bonnies, 17-16.
• Moore reached his A-10 scoring high for the season after previously being held to single digits in two consecutive games for the first time this year.
• St. Bonaventure had not trailed by more than three points since a victory over Northern Iowa on Nov. 29.
• Melvin Council Jr. concluded the game with 10 points and six assists.

QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH MARK SCHMIDT

“It felt like we were consistently on our back foot. But we didn’t throw in the towel. We battled, man, we didn’t relent. We experienced some lulls, and Jimerson made some significant shots. But we were still in it at the conclusion. We didn’t collapse, and lesser squads wouldn’t have been capable of reclaiming a possession there at the end. We had our opportunities. Credit to Saint Louis, they’re a very strong team.”

“We struggled to get the ball into the high post. We attempted to place Melvin there since he’s the top passer, but that’s something we must analyze.”

“We were aware that we wouldn’t go undefeated; we need to learn from our errors tonight. We had two road games here and managed to secure victory in one of them. To contend for an Atlantic 10 title, you have to capture some victories on the road and defend your home turf; now we must protect our home court in the forthcoming games.”

UP NEXT

St. Bonaventure is set to return home to battle La Salle Saturday at noon inside the Reilly Center. The 1968 St. Bonaventure NCAA Tournament squad will be recognized during Saturday’s match. Tickets are available by clicking here.

——

For the most recent updates on St. Bonaventure athletics, remain connected on social media. Follow the Bonnies on X @GoBonnies and receive men’s basketball news @BonniesMBB. Stay updated with the Bonnies on Facebook /GoBonnies and on Instagram @GoBonnies. Bonnies Men’s Basketball can also be followed on Instagram @bonnies_mbb.