NEWARK, N.J. – St. Bonaventure battled to the wire with No. 15/18 UConn Saturday afternoon in the Never Forget Tribute Classic at the Prudential Center, but came up short, 74-64.
Jaren Holmes led the way with 19 points, eight rebounds and five assists, again taking the point guard role in place of Kyle Lofton who missed his third consecutive game due to an ankle injury.
Dominick Welch added 15 points and seven rebounds while Jalen Adaway posted 14 points and 10 boards for his third double-double in four games.
St. Bonaventure (8-2) opened the game cold, connecting on two of its first 14 tries from the floor. More troublesome, though, were two quick fouls assessed to Osun Osunniyi, forcing him to the bench just three minutes into the game.
UConn (9-2) took advantage, pulling to a 27-20 lead, but the Bonnies would run to halftime with momentum after closing the deficit to just 29-28.
The Bonnies continued to control the pace following the break, pushing to the lead and holding the Huskies at arm's length for the first five minutes.
UConn responded, though, turning the tide with a game-changing 18-2 sprint to get the first breathing room for either side, 56-43, with 8:30 left.
Bona would not go away quietly.
Osunniyi's putback with 3:52 remaining made it a five-point game, 60-55, but an offensive rebound and second chance points allowed a three-point play from RJ Cole on the ensuing possession as the Huskies made their lead eight once more.
Holmes drove the lane for a 63-57 score, but again the offensive glass proved the difference as two more offensive boards led to another score from UConn to cool Bona's rally attempt.
Again down just five with under two minutes to go, UConn would post another score and would not let the Bonnies get any closer.
Cole paced the Huskies with 15 points.
UConn owned a +10 rebounding margin on average for the season, but the Bonnies won the battle of the boards, 40-37.
SBU shot 46 percent after intermission and 39 percent for the game while UConn shot at a 42 percent success rate.
Osunniyi finished with 10 points and five rebounds in his return to his home state of New Jersey. Fellow Garden State product Quadry Adams again earned the start and registered four points and three boards along with two steals.
UP NEXT
The Bonnies break for finals before traveling to Charlotte for the Basketball Hall of Fame Shootout at the Spectrum Center vs. Virginia Tech Friday, Dec. 17. Tip is scheduled for 4 p.m. on ESPN2.
