Bonnies Top 49ers With Last Second Basket
Nov. 25, 2000
Rochester, N.Y. - Senior Kevin Houston hit a driving layup with five seconds remaining to give St. Bonaventure a 79-78 victory over the Charlotte 49ers, Saturday at Blue Cross Arena.
The 49ers, who led by as many as 11 in the second half, surrendered the lead with 1:44 left to play on a three-pointer by Houston. A leaner by Jobey Thomas evened the score at 75-75 with 1:24 to play. A pair of St. Bonaventure free throws on their next two possessions put the Bonnies ahead by two, 77-75 with 48 seconds left. Sophomore guard Demon Brown nailed his sixth three-pointer of the game with 20 seconds to play to put the 49ers ahead, 78-77. The Bonnies, without taking a timeout, pushed the ball up the left side. Houston drove the left wing and cut towards the hoop to hit the game-winning basket.
"They made the plays that they had to to win," 49ers head coach Bobby Lutz said of the Bonnies. "That was the difference in the game. I don't feel we lost as much as they won. The deciding factor was how much they hurt us on the offensive boards."
St. Bonaventure enjoyed a 41-30 rebounding edge that included a 22-12 cushion in the second half. The 49ers pulled down 20 defensive rebounds and allowed the Bonnies to match that with 20 offensive rebounds.
Charlotte, which suffered its first loss last season at the hands of the Bonnies, shot .538 (28-52) from the floor and 50% (10-20) from three-point range.
Brown led four 49ers in double figures with a career-high 22 points on eight of 10 shooting and six of eight threes. Freshman Rodney White added 17 points, junior Cam Stephens barely missed his third straight double-double with 17 points and nine rebounds and junior Jobey Thomas added 12 points.
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The Bonnies were led by JR Bremer's 18-point, 10-rebound double-double. Patricio Prato hit for 17 points, 12 in the ssecond half. Marques Green had 15 points and Houston finished with 11.
Charlotte hosts Miami, Tuesday night at 7:35 at Halton Arena, in their first home game of the season.
"Most teams don't start off the season with three road games and we came out 2-1. We're certainly not happy about it. We know we could be 3-0," Lutz said.
