Junior guard Kyle Lofton dropped a game-high 23 points to help the one-seeded Saint Bonaventure Bunnies drop the 2-seeded Virginia Commonwealth Rams to grab the Atlantic 10 Conference crown and earn a bid to the NCAA tournament.
SBU became the first team since 2013 to win the A10 tournament as the one-seed. Osun Osunniyi added a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double while locking down the middle for SBU. He also swatted 3 shots, more than all of VCU’s starters combined.
The game was defined by defense, as neither team shot above 41% from the field. VCU’s Nah’Shon Hyland overcame foul trouble to grab 21 second-half points. Ultimately it was SBU’s well-rounded attack that helped them come away with a win.
Hyland’s foul trouble
With 13:04 remaining in the first half, Hyland picked up an offensive foul while setting a moving screen. The foul was Hyland’s third of the game. He was forced to sit the remainder of the half.
With Hyland decommissioned, SBU slowly added to their lead. VCU went into the break down 7. At 19.4 ppg, Hyland was the conference’s leading scorer. He had 0 entering halftime.
Both teams flex their defense
From the very beginning, the A10 Championship was set to be a defensive battle. Neither team allowed more than 65 ppg entering the game. Early in the second half, both teams’ defenses came alive.
Through the first 5 minutes of the second, VCU made just one field goal. Corey Douglas Jr.’s tip shot marked the team’s only score from the field over that stretch.
Amazingly though, SBU’s lead increased by only one during that time. VCU held their opponent to just seven points in those first five minutes. Lofton scored or assisted on all seven.
Hyland catches fire
Back from foul trouble in the second half, it was Hyland’s time to shine. He did not pick up another foul in the final frame.
The conference’s leading scorer dropped a team-high 21 in the second. He scored more in the second half than any of his teammates did the entire game. He did the majority of his damage from the charity strip, where he shot 11-12.
Lofton seals the deal
Jaren Holmes, usually SBU’s second-leading scorer, was just 2-10 in the first half. With Holmes’ jumper ice-cold, Lofton stepped up. He was 4-8 from the field, racking up 17 points in just the second half.
Just like Hyland, Lofton’s second half outscored all of his teammates’ entire games. He dished out a game-high 6 assists to go along with 5 rebounds as well.
In one crazy sequence, Lofton scored 5 points in a single possession. After he was fouled shooting a three, a timeout was called. A small scrum ensued, and a technical was called on VCU. Lofton then shot 5-straight free-throws, nailing them all.
Up Next
Along with the A10 Conference crown, SBU nabbed an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. It will be the team’s first appearance since 2018. They will look to change their program’s recent history of tournament failures.
They have not won a first-round game since 1970, and will be primed to change that.
VCU’s loss will certainly hurt their chances and leave them sweating during the selection show. However, the team’s 19-7 overall record should be enough to grab them an 11 or 12 seed.
