ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - Cayden Charles scored a team-best 18 points and three other Bonnies chipped in with 16-or-more as the St. Bonaventure men's basketball team defeated Youngstown State, 84-80, in a back-and-forth battle on Saturday night (Nov. 15) at the Reilly Center.
Amar'e Marshall logged a season-high 17 points on 6-for-7 shooting (2-2 from three-point range) while Buddy Simmons II added 17 points on 7-for-13 shooting. Frank Mitchell tallied 16 points and 7 rebounds.
FIRST HALF:
The Bonnies (4-0) and Penguins (2-2) traded blows in a first frame that saw eight ties and nine lead changes.
Youngstown State attacked SBU from behind the arc, nailing seven threes on 41.2 percent shooting from long range, while St. Bonaventure dominated under the rim, muscling its way to 22 points in the paint to YSU's 10.
The Penguins went on a 10-4 run to go up 33-27, their largest lead of the game, with 5:09 left to go.
St. Bonaventure battled back, answering with an 7-0 run and holding Youngstown State 0-for-4 from deep in that stretch. With 19 seconds before the break, Mitchell knocked down a jumper to take a 36-33 lead into halftime.
Cayden Charles led the Bonnies with 11 points on 3-for-5 shooting at the break, while Mitchell and Simmons had six points each.
SECOND HALF:
The Bonnies protected their lead through the first 8:55 of the second frame until the Penguins converted an and-one layup, tying the contest at 59-59. Following a Frank Mitchell lay in, YSU proceeded to score five straight points to go up 64-61 at the 9:42 mark.
SBU responded with a 9-2 surge capped off by a Marshall fast break slam and Simmons II triple at 7:21 that retook the lead, 70-66, and sent the Reilly Center crowd into a frenzy.
St. Bonaventure held the lead for over six minutes of play until Youngstown State scored on two straight possesions, hitting two free throws to tie the contest at 80 with 42 seconds remaining.
On the ensuing play, Simmons II hit a go-ahead pull-up jumper to take back the lead, 82-80.
With 23 seconds on the clock, the Bonnies forced a Penguins airball. Charles got fouled on the following inbound pass and calmly sank two free throws to ice the game, 84-80.
UP NEXT:
St. Bonaventure will host Robert Morris on Thursday (Nov. 20) at the Reilly Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. EST. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
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