By SPENCER BATES
RICHMOND, VA — There was no lack of offense in the second matchup of the season between the St. Bonaventure and Richmond men’s basketball teams.
Both sides shot over 50% from the field and over 45% from 3-point range. But, as the story of the season has gone for the Bonnies, late in the game they were unable to come up with the winning plays as they fell 99-94 in their second loss of the regular season to the Spiders.
“These were two good teams that can really score the ball in bunches, but both teams kind of struggled getting stops when they needed to,” St. Bonaventure assistant coach Nick Schmidt said. “I think the last run that Richmond had kind of put us to sleep. We got to get some stops at the end there.”
The feeling as the game crept ever closer to its finale was that whichever team managed to string together some defensive plays first would ultimately be the winner. The run didn’t need to be massive either, just enough to create some separation.
A 6-0 run that put Richmond up 87-78 with under five minutes to play provided exactly enough space to see the result over the line.
“We just got to find a way to make those plays down the stretch,” Schmidt said. “Teams are doing that against us, and I think that’s what’s been the difference in finishing these games. So, if we want a chance to really come back here at the end of the season, we got to get those stops when we need to.”
Big scoring days from Bona’s Darryl ‘Buddy’ Simmons II and Daniel Egbuniwe were ultimately spoiled by the Spiders. Simmons finished with a game-high 30 points on 11-for-22 shooting with five 3s to go along with five assists. Egbuniwe, responding to a challenge from head coach Mark Schmidt to pick up his offensive production after a number of low-scoring games, netted 22 points on 7-for-12 shooting with a career-high six 3-pointers.
As for the other Bona starters, Frank Mitchell recorded yet another double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, Cayden Charles scored 10 points and Dasonte Bowen tallied just five points but dished 10 assists.
Andrew Osasuyi also had a solid game, scoring eight points and grabbing eight boards.
“All the guys are putting in work in the gym and getting shots up, and it’s showing offensively,” Schmidt said. “Andrew’s really coming along offensively. He’s working on his game and has been in the gym a lot more. It’s just about getting stops, defensively. When you shoot 53% from the field and 46% from 3 with 12 threes, you should win. We just got to get better defensively.”
Richmond had five players reach double figures for the game. Will Johnston, who scored 24 points, all in the second half, in the first game of the season against the Bonnies, scored 21 points in round two. AJ Lopez netted 20 points, Aiden Argabright had 14, Collin Tanner tallied 11 and Mikkel Tyne reached 10 in the score column as well.
St. Bonaventure will return home to take on Rhode Island on Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. for the penultimate regular season game in the Reilly Center.
