ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – Following the game, St. Bonaventure head coach Mark Schmidt called Wednesday night's effort his squad's best defensive performance of the season.

The final numbers backed that up as the Bonnies clamped down visiting Cleveland State in a 61-42 victory to improve to 6-3 overall on the season and snap what was a six-game winning streak for the Vikings entering the day.

Cleveland State's offensive numbers were anemic: the Vikings went just 15-for-49 overall and 1-of-13 from long distance against Bona's defense, which rebounded in a big way after allowing 83 points in a disappointing effort last weekend at Buffalo.

On this night, SBU's opponent never found rhythm on the offensive end, and the Bonnies hauled in seven more rebounds (49) than CSU had points (42).

Daryl Banks III led all scorers with 15 points while Kyrell Luc (12 points) and Chad Venning (12) each were in double figures. Barry Evans added 10 points, nine rebounds, three assists and three steals in perhaps his best collegiate effort.

The Bonnies grabbed control early, thanks to a 14-6 run, but would go cold from there, making just one of their next 11 tries from the floor as Cleveland State kept things close.

Bona shot just 10-for-39 before halftime, but limited the Vikings to just 22 points in the opening half and went to the locker room with a six-point edge.

The offensive woes quickly evaporated as the second half got underway.

Venning scored on the first possession of the half to start a quick 12-2 sprint as the Bonnies forced a Vikings timeout after pushing their lead to 40-24 less than three minutes after the break.

From there, Bona's defense was in full lock down mode.

Cleveland State (6-4, 2-0 Horizon) never got back within single digits.

No Vikings player was in double figures with Deante Johnson posting eight points. Leading scorer Tristan Enaruna finished with just five points.
  
GAME NOTES

• Evans turned in his second career double-figure scoring effort. He finished with 12 points in the season opener vs. Saint Francis (PA). His nine rebounds were a career high.
• Bona's defensive effort was its best since limiting George Washington to 41 points in a win on Feb. 27, 2021.
• The Bonnies finished with 10 steals, one off a season high (11 vs. South Dakota State).
• Luc handed out four of SBU's 16 assists.
• St. Bonaventure improved to 29-3 when holding opponents to under 65 points since the start of the 2020-21 season.

UP NEXT
St. Bonaventure travels to Brooklyn to take on Iona in the Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational at Barclays Center. Tip off is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Sunday and the game will be broadcast live on YES Network.

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