Bulls Fall In Final Seconds At 25th-Ranked St. Bonaventure

Saturday, December 4

Olean, NY

4:00 pm

4-3,0-0MAC

St. Bonaventure

7-1,0-0Atlantic 10

Buffalo

St. Bonaventure

Bulls Fall In Final Seconds At 25th-Ranked St. Bonaventure

12/4/2021 7:12:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

OLEAN, NY – St. Bonaventure's Jalen Adaway hit a three-pointer with under two seconds remaining to break a 65-65 tie and send the host Bonnies to a 68-65 victory at the Reilly Center. St. Bonaventure was the second nationally ranked team UB has faced this season as the Bonnies are currently ranked 25^th in the latest national Coaches Poll.

Buffalo found itself fighting back all game as UB struggled from the floor for much of the first 30 minutes. The Bulls shot 34.4% in the first half, including just 23.1% from three. UB held it's biggest lead of the game at four with 4:47 left in the first, but a pair of threes from the Bonnies ignited an 11-2 run to end the half as St. Bonaventure took a 35-29 lead into the break.

The Bulls scored the first four points of the second half, but St. Bonaventure scored the next nine to take its first double-digit lead of the game. The Bonnies led by as many as 13, but a three-pointer from Ronaldo Segu began a 13-4 run for the Bulls, who climbed back within four following a layup from Jeenathan Williams.

However, St. Bonaventure again led by double figures with a 63-52 lead with 3:05 left, but the Bulls weren't done. A pair of baskets from Williams quickly cut it to seven and a three from Segu pulled Buffalo to within four at 63-59 with 1:22 left. The Bonnies hit a pair of free throws to go back up six, but a three from Williams cut the deficit in half.

St. Bonaventure then missed the front end of a one and one and Williams found Maceo Jack in the corner for a three with 29 seconds left, tying the game up at 65-65. The Bonnies had one possession left and Adaway got lose at the top of the key and hit the straightaway three pointer, which turned out to be the game winner.

"That is everything you expect from a rivalry game," said head coach Jim Whitesell. "I am extremely proud of the way we fought back in that game, but we have to play a full 40 minutes and we can't get down double figures like we did twice today."

Williams led all scorers with 23 points, 19 of those coming in the second half. He also added a game-high four steals. Segu added 13 points, six rebounds, and four assists.

Jack finished with 11 points, four rebounds, and two blocks, while Tra'von Fagan came off the bench and added seven points, seven rebounds, two block and two steals.

Buffalo forced 15 St. Bonaventure turnovers and hit more shots from the floor than the Bonnies, but it was a difference at the free throw line that proved to be the difference. St. Bonaventure went to the line 14 times, hitting 12, while Buffalo made just six on nine attempts.

The Bulls continue their road trip on Wednesday night at Western Kentucky, the fourth opponent to play in the postseason last year. Tipoff is at 8pm ET.