ST. BONAVENTURE vs. VERMONT
Friday, Nov. 8 - 7:00 p.m.
Bob Lanier Court at the Reilly Center
Online Coverage: Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio
TV: ESPN+ | Radio: WPIG 95.7 FM (Olean area) / WWLZ 820 AM/101.3 FM (Elmira area)
Complete Game Notes (PDF)
OPENING TIP
St. Bonaventure welcomes Vermont Friday night at the Reilly Center in the continuation of what has been an entertaining rivalry in recent seasons. The two teams went to double overtime before Vermont prevailed at home last year and the Bonnies triumphed on a game-winning three-pointer in Rochester two seasons ago.
TICKETS
Regular single game tickets for Friday's game start at $16. $10 value section seats are also available as well as $7 youth tickets for fans 12 and under. Those can be purchased in person at the Ticket Office beginning two hours prior to tip-off. Fans can pick up a free season schedule poster at the arena entrances as well. For more details, call the SBU Ticket Office at 716-375-2500 or visit GoBonnies.com/Tickets.
BONA SELECTED FIFTH IN A-10
St. Bonaventure was selected fifth in the preseason Atlantic 10 rankings. Last season's ninth-place preseason ranking is the only time in the past four years that the Bonnies have not been selected fifth or higher. While last season's ninth-place ranking in the preseason polls turned into a fourth-place finish and ultimately a spot in the Atlantic 10 Championship Game, the Bonnies look to continue their trend of surpassing preseason expectations: St. Bonaventure has not finished lower than its preseason poll selection since the 2012-13 campaign.
NEW FACES
The Bonnies return a nucleus of exciting talent – including sophomores Kyle Lofton, Dominick Welch, Osun Osunniyi and Alpha Okoli along with senior Amadi Ikpeze – but those are the only five players back from last year on the active roster. A new but experienced player is redshirt sophomore Bobby Planutis who was with the program all of last year, sitting due to NCAA transfer rules after transferring from Mount St. Mary's where he started 25 of 32 games as a freshman.
The team's lone junior is a newcomer – transfer Matt Johnson, a guard from Howard (TX) junior college. Sophomore Jaren English joins the backcourt from Ranger (TX) junior college as well. The team also welcomes freshmen Robert Carpenter, Alejandro Vasquez and Justin Winston. Another newcomer, junior Jalen Adaway, will sit this season after transferring from Miami (OH) and have two years of eligibility remaining beginning next season.
SHOES TO FILL
While there's much to be excited about with the returning players and newcomers, the Bonnies will need to fill the shoes of what was an outstanding senior class that graduated following last season. Courtney Stockard was an All-Conference performer, averaging over 15 points per game last year. LaDarien Griffin earned the league's Most Improved Player award two seasons ago and started 23 of the 24 games he played a year ago. Both of those players are playing professionally overseas now, becoming the 23rd and 24th Bona players under head coach Mark Schmidt to sign pro deals. Joined by four-year player Nelson Kaputo, the trio was part of 86 wins during their Bona careers.
THE CENTENNIAL SEASON
This year marks one of the most anticipated in program history as the Bonnies open their 100th season of intercollegiate men's basketball. Special celebrations are planned throughout the year. For more information, visit GoBonnies.com/100.
100 YEARS IN 100 DAYS
All summer and fall, the Athletics Department has been counting down to tip-off with the 100 Years in 100 Days series on Facebook. With the countdown hitting zero, look back on all the moments by clicking here.
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