Olean, N.Y. - Chris Matthews hit five three-pointers, including a pair on back-to-back possessions with under 12 minutes to play, to help lift St. Bonaventure to a 72-62 victory over the Robert Morris University men's basketball team Friday night in the season opener for both clubs.
The Colonials, who trailed at the half, 36-19, after hitting just two field goals in the first 10 minutes of play, climbed to within two possessions late but never were able to grab the lead.
Matthews hit a pair of three-pointers in the early going as the Bonnies jumped out to a 16-0 advantage. RMU finally got on the board when senior guard Jeremy Chappell (Cincinnati, Ohio / Northwest) hit a jumper with 14:46 remaining before halftime. A three-pointer from Jonathan Hall gave St. Bonaventure a 27-8 lead, and the Bonnies held their largest lead of the game, 36-14, when Hall scored five straight points.
Robert Morris was able to trim its deficit to 17 at halftime, 36-19, thanks to a layup from junior guard Mezie Nwigwe (Hyattsville, Md. / High Point) and a three-pointer by sophomore guard Gary Wallace (Montclair, N.J. / Seton Hall Prep).
The third three-pointer on the game for Matthews early in the second half gave the Bonnies a 42-21 advantage, but a 13-5 spurt by the Colonials closed RMU's deficit to 47-34 at the 14:55 mark of the second half.
Senior guard Bateko Francisco (Paris, France / Fort Scott J.C.), who was held scoreless in the first half due to three fouls, scored a layup to cap the run, while junior forward Josiah Whitehead (Portsmouth, Va. / Cecil C.C.) scored four points and Chappell three.
A layup from Matthews helped St. Bonaventure slow the Robert Morris run, but the Colonials answered by scoring nine straight points to pull within six, 49-43, with 12:03 to play. Francisco scored five points, while Chappell converted a four-point play after hitting a three-pointer and being fouled by Michael Davenport in the process.
Matthews then came through with back-to-back three-pointers to get the St. Bonaventure lead back to double figures, 55-45. The Colonials had one last surge remaining, closing to within 66-62 after a three-pointer from Chappell with 1:09 to play, but the Bonnies finished 6-for-8 from the charity stripe in the final minute to seal the victory.
Chappell took home game-high honors with 20 points on 6-of-13 shooting and also recorded 10 rebounds for his seventh career double-double, while Hall paced the Bonnies with 19 points. Matthews contributed 18 points for St. Bonaventure, while Francisco scored all 11 of his points after halftime for Robert Morris. Whitehead added eight points and seven rebounds off the bench for the Colonials.
RMU continues play in the Garden State Challenge Tuesday, Nov. 18, when it opens the home portion of its 2008-09 schedule by hosting Delaware at the Charles L. Sewall Center for a 7:00 p.m. tip.
