CLEVELAND – Despite a career-best 27 points and 15 rebounds from
Frank Mitchell, the St. Bonaventure men's basketball team fell in overtime to Ohio, 88-83, on Saturday (Dec. 13) in the Cleveland Hoops Showdown at Rocket Arena.
Point guard
Dasonte Bowen added a season-best 17 points and seven assists, while
Daniel Egbuniwe scored 12 points with four rebounds and three assists.
First Half:
The Bonnies (10-2) and Bobcats (4-6) started the game cold from the field, shooting a combined 2-for-10 in the opening minutes. Once the two teams settled in, St. Bonaventure jumped out to an early 12-8 lead behind a pair of three-pointers from Buddy Simmons II.
Ohio answered by outscoring the Bonnies 14-3 over the next 4:27, taking a 22-15 lead with 7:22 before the break.
St. Bonaventure and Ohio traded baskets throughout the waning minutes of the first half. Down by four with 12 seconds left in the half, Egbuniwe made a deep midrange jumper to pull the Bonnies within two. At halftime, St. Bonaventure trailed, 34-32.
Second Half:
A three-pointer from
Joe Grahovac between two layups from Bowen gave the Bonnies a five-point lead in the first 1:21 of the second half. The 7-0 run was countered by four unanswered points from Ohio's Javan Simmons, bringing the Bobcats within one.
With 15:00 on the clock, Ohio went on a 9-0 run to take a five-point lead that it would maintain throughout the rest of regulation. The Bobcats lead stretched as high as eight, but late baskets by
Cayden Charles and Mitchell closed the gap.
After a pair of free throws from Egbuniwe brought the Bonnies within one with 17 seconds remaining, Egbuniwe and Marshall trapped an Ohio player and forced a jump ball, giving possession back to St. Bonaventure. Bowen was fouled on a layup attempt with six seconds on the clock, sending him to the free throw line. Bowen made the first free throw but missed the second, sending the game to overtime tied at 70.
Overtime:
The Bonnies took the lead multiple times throughout the extra period behind layups by Mitchell. However, St. Bonaventure was held without a field goal for over three and a half minutes, allowing the Bobcats to build a sizeable advantage. By the time Bowen broke the dry spell with 12 seconds left, it was too late as Ohio held on for the 88-83 win.
Up Next:
St. Bonaventure will return home for its non-conference finale against Le Moyne on Saturday at the Reilly Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET, and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+, as well as televised on the YES Network.
Notes:
- On his 24th birthday, Mitchell scored a career-best 27 points. It's the most by any St. Bonaventure player in a single game this season.
- Bowen scored at least 15 points for the second game in a row. He had 15 points, nine assists and six rebounds on Wednesday (Dec. 10) vs. Colgate.
- Bowen and Mitchell each played a career-high 42 minutes.
