AMHERST, Mass. – Despite multiple attempts to fight back, St. Bonaventure could never sustain momentum and a frosty first half proved to be too much to overcome as UMass held on for 71-60 victory on the regular season's finale day Saturday afternoon inside the Mullins Center.
Playing from behind most of the day, the Bonnies pulled within a 59-56 score with 3:22 remaining as the Massachusetts duo of Kyrell Luc and Moses Flowers combined for a three on the wing for a one possession game.
T.J. Weeks of UMass responded on the next trip for the Minutemen with a trey of his own to push the game back to two possessions.
That was the way of the afternoon. Each time the Bonnies seemed to be in position to wrestle control away from the Minutemen, a cold snap, a foul or an important bucket went the way of the hosts.
Chad Venning posted a game-high 18 points, adding eight rebounds. Flowers chipped in 16 points and seven boards while Luc finished with 11 points, six assists and three steals.
Bona's led early, but soon an icy grip on the Bonnies offense allowed the Minutemen to race ahead
The hosts embarked on a 19-4 run to pull ahead by double digits, thanks in large part to an 8-for-25 performance from the floor during the opening 20 minutes by the Brown and White.
The Bonnies (14-17, 8-10 A-10) benefitted from the halftime break, immediately thawing on the offensive end.
A quick 9-2 run out of the half tied the game, 31-31, less than three minutes into the second half.
Unfortunately for the Bonnies, it would be short-lived.
Foul trouble in part hampered the Bonnies efforts. Venning picked up his fourth foul with 12:10 to play as part of a two-minute scoreless streak that saw the Minutemen build their lead back to nine.
Luc did his part for a rally, shining in his return to his home state. The Dorchester, Mass. native was a defensive spark with multiple steals and hounding defense during the second half.
As the Bonnies tried to claw back, the fouls continued to mount.
After pulling back within four, 53-49, Daryl Banks III fouled out to end a nine-point, five rebound, three-assist day.
UMass (15-15, 6-12) made two free throws after that, but the Bonnies would twice close to within three, unable to get closer.
Rahsool Diggins and RJ Luis each scored 14 points apiece for the Minutemen who held a 41-31 advantage on the boards. UMass shot 36 percent for the day, the same as the Bonnies, but posted 19 second chance points to Bona's nine and also was +10 in the paint.
The teams now await their official conference tourney seeding with the release of the Atlantic 10 Tournament bracket Saturday night.
------
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
