Semifinal Notes: St. Bona | A-10

After defeating No. 5 seed Saint Joseph's in the quarterfinals, No. 4 St. Bonaventure advances to the semifinals against No. 8 UMass. Tip time is scheduled for 1 p.m. in a game televised nationally by CBS Sports Network.

Notes for Saturday's game against UMass:
•The Bonnies earned just their second win after the conclusion of the regular season since 2002 (2-6; 2-5 A-10s, 0-1 CBI). Saturday is SBU's fifth appearance in the A-10 semifinals (2-2) and first since 2000. SBU is 0-3 vs. UMass in A-10 Championship games.

•Nicholson posted his fifth double-double (25p, 10r) in his last eight games, vs. SJU. He is averaging 25.4 points and 11.6 rebounds including 60.9 percent from the floor and 57.9 percent from 3-point range over that span (SBU 6-2). In five career A-10 postseason games, he averages 21.2 and 8.6 per game.

•18 wins is the most by a Bona team since 2000-01 (18-12). It is also the most by a Mark Schmidt-coached team (17-11 @ Robert Morris in 2006-07).

•G Charlon Kloof poured in a career-high 19 points in the win over the Hawks, seven more than his previous career mark set and tied earlier this year.  Freshman C Youssou Ndoye grabbed a career-high nine rebounds.

•In their only previous meeting this season, UMass used a 17-2 run in the second half to erase the Bonnies' halftime edge and take 71-53 lead with 3:59 to play. Nicholson finished with 24 points and nine boards to lead SBU. Jesse Morgan matched that total for UMass, leading a trio of double figure scorers (Chaz Williams 17, Terrell Vinson 10).

•No. 8 seed Umass is coming off a  77-71 upset of top seeded and nationally-ranked (21/24) Temple. Jesse Morgan scored 21 points and Chaz Williams had 20 to lead the way, contributing to a 15-0 run to start the half that was enough to turn the tide.  

• The winner advances to the the A-10 Championship final, which will be aired live on CBS at 1 p.m.