ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – Head coach Mark Schmidt refers to the lead up to the season as a series of steps – first being the team's so-called 'secret scrimmage,' held nearly two weeks ago vs. Kent State, and the second being the annual exhibition game vs. Alfred.

Consider the steps cleared with ease, setting a strong foundation for the biggest step of officially opening the new campaign next week.

The Bonnies opened the game on a 22-2 run, did not allow Alfred to score a point for over six and a half minutes to begin the contest, and rolled to an 80-41 victory Wednesday night in the Reilly Center.

Twelve Bonaventure players cracked into the scoring column, led by Moses Flowers (12 points), Chad Venning (11 points) and Mika Adams-Woods (10 points) who all scored in double figures.

St. Bonaventure led by double digits for nearly the entire night with the hosts connecting on over 62 percent of their field goal tries during the second half and registering a better than 57 percent success rate for the game.

Bona's newcomers got involved – Adams-Woods and Charles Pride, both fifth-year graduate transfers, were in the starting lineup with Pride adding seven points and eight rebounds including four on the offensive glass.

Noel Brown, a junior transfer, chipped in with eight points and nine boards off the bench.

Two freshmen also got involved – Duane Thompson provided nine points and four rebounds while Miles Rose checked in with four points.

Daryl Banks III also handed out six assists in just under 20 minutes of work.

GAME NOTES

• All 15 Bonaventure players on the active roster checked into the game, including walk-ons Broek Ostrom, Anthony Belardinelli and Jack DeRose.
• Redshirt freshman Melian Martinez also scored his first two points, adding two blocks.
• Casey Curran led the Saxons with 12 points and seven rebounds playing in a familiar environment. Curran's father, Steve, was on the Bonnies coaching staff for over a decade. Former Bonnies walk-on guard Tyler Curran finished with seven points. 
• The Bonnies owned the paint, 42-14, and held a 37-30 advantage on the glass.
• Venning needed just 11:30 of game time to compile his stat line, going 5-for-6 from the floor with two blocks.

UP NEXT
With the dress rehearsal in the rearview, the Bonnies open up the 2023-24 season for real on Monday night by hosting Longwood. Tip-off inside the Reilly Center is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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