ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – Despite a 20-point, 13-rebound double-double from Frank Mitchell, the St. Bonaventure men's basketball team fell to Duquesne, 78-73, Saturday night (Feb. 14) at the Reilly Center.  
 
Mitchell shot 9-for-15 while tallying four assists, one block and one steal. Dasonte Bowen returned to the lineup with 18 points while shooting 8-for-8 from the free throw line. Cayden Charles registered 16 points on 6-for-11 shooting and hauled in seven rebounds, while Buddy Simmons II added 11 points and five rebounds.  
 
FIRST HALF
The Dukes (15-10, 7-5 Atlantic 10) jumped out to a 10-2 lead under four minutes into the contest. Duquesne later pushed its edge to double-digits, 15-5, at the 14:28 mark.  
 
A post finish from Mitchell and two lay-ins from Bowen helped cut Bonaventure's (14-11, 3-9 A10) deficit to two possessions, 17-11. However, Duquesne answered with a 20-8 run to extend its lead to 37-19 with 7:15 remaining. The 18-point deficit was the SBU's largest of the game.  
 
The Bonnies would find their footing offensively, responding with an 11-4 spurt behind seven points from Charles to trail 41-30 with 3:02 left.   
 
Duquesne would not let Bonaventure threaten any closer, holding a 45-33 advantage at the break. Charles and Bowen led SBU with 10 points each at half.  
 
SECOND HALF
Simmons II opened the frame with a three, sparking an 8-2 surge that pulled the Bonnies back within two possessions, 47-41.  
 
Two straight scores from the Dukes put them back up by 10, but a layup from Mitchell and fast-break slam from Charles kept Bonaventure down six, 51-45, with 14:41 to go. Less than a minute later, back-to-back dunks from Mitchell and Andrew Osasuyi got the Bonnies within three, 52-49.
 
Duquesne countered with an 8-2 burst to grow its lead to 60-51. Bonaventure proceeded to craft a 12-4 run capped off by a Mitchell floater to take its first lead of the game, 64-63, with 6:10 remaining.  
 
The Dukes retook the lead and went up 67-65, until Charles muscled in an and-one layup to put the Bonnies back on top with 4:39 to go.  
 
Duquesne then scored two straight baskets before Bowen knocked down a jumper and Joe Grahovac drilled a three-pointer to give SBU a 73-71 lead at the 2:18 mark.  
 
The Dukes would close the game with seven straight points to take the victory, 78-73.

UP NEXT
The Bonnies host Saint Joseph's on Wednesday (Feb. 18) at the Reilly Center. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and the YES Network.  
 
NOTES:

• Mitchell's double-double is his 13^th of the season, the most by any player in the Atlantic 10.
• After missing one game at Fordham (Feb. 7), Bowen returned to the lineup with 18 points, extending his double-figure scoring streak to five games.
• Bowen went 8-for-8 from the free throw line, the most free throws made in a game without a miss by any St. Bonaventure player this season.
• Simmons II has reached double figures in seven straight games. He is averaging 18.6 points per game during that span.