By MIKE McCURRY
Even in a down year for the Atlantic-10, the league figures to send multiple teams to the NCAA Tournament.
Rhode Island has been a lock for quite some time. Because of that, St. Bonaventure put itself in prime position for an invitation to the Big Dance by topping No. 16, URI, 77-74, on Friday, in a high-level A-10 matchup overflowing with lead changes, ties, and great, experienced guards.
The Bonnies’ deficit extended to six via a Fatts Russell made layup with 4:31 remaining, but that would represent Rhode Island’s last made field goal of the game.
By locking up the Rams, in conjunction with clutch plays down the stretch from Jaylen Adams and LaDarien Griffin, St. Bonaventure halted the nation’s longest active winning streak at 16.
With Rhode Island dropping a conference game for the first time in over a full year—URI had handled 21 straight Atlantic-10 opponents prior to Friday—Vermont stands as the last unblemished in-league team in college basketball this season.
Adams, who came in averaging 20.5 points per night, finished with only 10 on 2-of-12 shooting but had 8 assists to just 2 turnovers, embracing the double-team in pick-and-roll situations and making the quick, intelligent decision near every time.
St Bonaventure is Jaylen Adams feeds LaDarien Griffin, off the pick-and-roll, for the throwdown slam, giving the Bonnies a 75-74 lead over Rhode Island with 0:21.5 to play in the game. https://t.co/RSHZ53fhwK
— NCAAHoops247 (@NCAAHoops247) February 17, 2018
Fellow senior guard Matt Mobley dropped a game-high 26. Griffin demonstrated a brilliant all-around floor game with 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks off the bench.
St. Bonaventure entered play as ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi’s very last team in the field of 68. Surely the Bonnies have a bit more breathing room now. They have four Quadrant-1 wins to their name, boasting triumphs at Buffalo, at Syracuse, and on a neutral court versus Vermont in addition to this win over Rhode Island, which came into the weekend with both an overall RPI and a projected NCAA Tournament seed of 5.
St. Bonaventure has won each of its last 5 games against ranked opponents.
They lost 26 consecutive games vs ranked opponents prior to this 5-game streak.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 17, 2018
Rhode Island was done in by 17 turnovers and late empty possessions. Jared Terrell had 23 points but did most of his damage in the first half. E.C. Matthews, who gave it a go despite injuring his left knee earlier in the week, scored all of his 14 in the latter frame.
It marked the Rams’ first setback of the season in which Matthews played.
Photo: @BonniesMBB
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