CEDAR PARK, Texas — St. Bonaventure climbed out of a 17-point first half hole but was unable to finish the job, falling 68-65 to Arkansas-Little Rock on Monday in the first round of the Lone Star Showcase.
The Bonnies overcame a foul-plagued first half with a 15-3 run to open the second half, taking a 43-41 lead midway through the second.
The game remained close from there.Denzel Gregg‘s dunk off a lob pass fromJaylen Adams made it a 62-60 St. Bonaventure lead with 2:55 left, but Little Rock regained the lead for good on a step-back, off-balance three-pointer by Kemy Osse with 1:56 remaining that made it a 64-62 score.
With 52 seconds left,Matt Mobley cut the Trojans’ lead to 66-65, but after Lis Soshi missed a jumper for Little Rock, Osse grabbed the offensive rebound and gained the Trojans another possession. Jalen Jackson was fouled and he made two free throws with 21 seconds to play.
Adams got off a contested, last-second three-pointer that was off the mark.
The loss dropped the Bonnies to 1-2 while ALR, which won the Sun Belt title and went to the NCAA Tournament last season, is now 3-1.
The Bonnies were done in by fouls and turnovers. They were whistled for 26 personal fouls, committed 17 turnovers and went 3-16 from three-point range.
Adams led St. Bonaventure with 18 points while Mobley added 15. SophomoreLaDarien Griffin scored a career high 11 points off the bench. Mobley added eight rebounds and four assists.
