Box Score ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – Jalen Adaway and Jaren Holmes combined for 44 points and went 18-for-26 from the floor to spark St. Bonaventure to an 84-71 victory over visiting Loyola (MD) at the Reilly Center Wednesday night.

Holmes added a career-best nine assists while shooting 9-for-12 overall.

Dominick Welch also produced an outstanding stat line of 16 points, seven assists and four steals.

"Overall, we need to be more connected and I know I need to get better at certain things. In order to get back to the top we have to defend much better," Holmes said. "We will figure it out in film and I trust this team will get better. We are blessed and thankful to be 8-1, but the goal is to be at our best heading into the A-10 Tournament."

St. Bonaventure (8-1) trailed by three at halftime, but shot a scorching 21-for-29 after the break to race past the Greyhounds (5-5).

Bona started slow as Loyola scored the game's first five points and grabbed a 12-6 lead early.

The first half would become a back-and-forth battle as the squads exchanged eight lead changes over the first 13 minutes, and 10 times before intermission.

Loyola, winners of four straight entering the game, remained hot over the entire first 20 minutes, though, shooting over 55 percent from the field en route to a 41-38 advantage at the break.

St. Bonaventure turned up the intensity following halftime, scoring on the first two possessions and marching back in front by two possessions quickly.

Wednesday's game was not meant to be easy for the hosts, playing again without point guard Kyle Lofton due to injury, however.

It remained a five-point game with under 8:30 remaining, and stayed at a single-digit margin until a fast break layup from Quadry Adams pushed the score to 79-69, ending any thoughts of a Greyhounds rally down the stretch.

Jaylin Andrews posted 20 points for Loyola while Cam Spencer finished with 13 points and six assists.

GAME NOTES

• St. Bonaventure shot 60 percent for the game (36-60) while Loyola finished at a 50 percent clip (27-54).
• The Bonnies owned a 29-25 margin on the boards and a 46-30 advantage in the paint.
• Bona had a season-high 10 steals, led by Welch's four which tied a career-high set by the senior against Marquette last month.
• Adaway was two points off his career-high of 24 set last year vs. Saint Joseph's.
• Holmes has set a career-best in assists in back-to-back games at point guard, registering a 17-to-3 assist-to-turnover margin in those two contests.
• Osun Osunniyi had a season-best four assists. In all, the Bonnies handed out 23 assists, also a season team-high, on 36 made baskets.
• Adams tallied a career-high 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting. His previous best of 11 points came as a member of Wake Forest vs. Delaware State on Nov. 25, 2020.
• Welch drilled four 3-pointers to move to 190 for his career, one behind Matt Mobley, '18 for fifth in school history.
• Holmes drew seven fouls called against him on the night, the third-highest total for any Bonnies player this season. He drew 10 fouls against Marquette and nine against Canisius.

QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH MARK SCHMIDT
"We got off to a slow start in the first. I thought we came out flat, but give Loyola credit. In the second half we rebounded and got some buckets in the paint."

"We weren't as connected and tough as we need to be. Defensively we need to get better. The first half was definitely disappointing. There are no more easy ones from here on out and we have to get better."

"The bottom line in the business is winning, but we need to get better in all areas. We have a long way to go. When we don't bring the energy, we're just an average team. We're capable of playing better. We have to get back to playing Bonaventure basketball."

"Guys have to step up with Kyle out. Everybody was able to come in and play well tonight. Jaren has done a great job playing out of position and guys have definitely stepped in to a leadership role with Kyle out."

UP NEXT
The Bonnies travel to Newark, N.J. for a showdown against nationally-ranked UConn in the Never Forget Tribute Classic at Prudential Center. Tip off is slated for 4 p.m. on ESPN2.

------
For the latest news on St. Bonaventure athletics, stay connected on social media. Follow the Bonnies on Twitter @GoBonnies and get men's basketball updates @BonniesMBB. Keep up with the Bonnies on Facebook /GoBonnies and on Instagram @GoBonnies