Jan 30, 2023 @ 8:55pm. As part of the St. Bonaventure Basketball Centennial Season celebration, the Athletics Department gathered voting from fans and partnered with some of the most well-versed individuals on the history of the program to create an All-Time Team. When we looked at that game, I thought, This team is really good, and were going to have to score a lot of points to win this thing, but it should be a great game, he said. "The spirit of St. Bonaventure is bigger than any one man, but no singular soul in 164 years has ever brought more honor, dignity, glory and love to bear at Bonas than Bob Lanier, said Mike Vaccaro, a New York Post columnist and historian on Bonnies basketball who graduated from St. Bonaventure in 1989. Sam Stith Sparked by Francis Okoros inside play and Yuri Collins passing Collins had five of his 10 assists in the first five minutes of the second half the Billikens cut Bonas lead to 55-49. The 5-9 junior guard for the Demon Deacons averaged 17 points per game, but wasnt the scoring leader for the squad. Lanier was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992. His roll that postseason continued with 19 points and 18 rebounds vs. Villanova and he also scored 16 points in the Final Four vs. Jacksonville. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. His injury didnt scare the Pistons, who, according to an NBA.com story, signed Lanier as he was still in the hospital, recovering from knee surgery that spring. Hollis scored 37 points27 in the first half alonebefore a capacity crowd in what was Jim Boeheims first year as the Orangemen head coach. He tallied 659 points and his skillful play was instrumental in leading Bona to a 65-12 record during his career (1967-70). St. Bonaventure started 0-3 before win streaks of four and five games boosted them in the home stretch of the season. The NCAA announced the cancellation of all winter and spring sports championships because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Riding a seven-game win streak into the NIT, Indiana State relied on the high-scoring forward who averaged 33 points per game that season, but fell to Houston on the road. 3. Its just that youre not there to help them. The Universitys webpage of Stith offers an apt description: When the game was on the line, he became the Go To Guy, and he seldom disappointed. Win #73 included. A consensus All-American twice (1969, '70), Lanier finished his career as the St. Bonaventure record holder in seven categories including points (2,067), rebounding (1,180), single-game scoring (51 points vs. Seton Hall), single-game rebounding (27 vs. Loyola MD), single-season rebounding (416), single-season shooting percentage (.586) and average rebounds in one season (16.0 rpg) in 1969-70. He also became the first player in the history of the league to earn four straight Player of the Week awards. Saint Louis began Monday at No. That 1970 team, Schmidt said, was the greatest Bona team that ever played. It was always a great experience, especially when Niagara would come in, he said. The NCAA Division I council approved a plan last month that allows for required summer activities for up to eight hours a week in basketball to begin July 20, and to last up to eight weeks or until the schools first day of classes. Everyone completing the survey will be able to enter a contest to Win as our way of saying, "Thank You" for your time. In the end, Lucas collected 21 rebounds and missed only seven shots from the field in scoring 32 points. Then came February 25 with Niagaras visit to the Armory. The Bonnies prevailed despite 17 turnovers, the last of which could have been most costly. Earl Belcher 1 overall pick by the Detroit Pistons in the 1970 NBA draft, after a season in which he averaged 29.1 points a game. He realized that the ending to the game nearly 55 years ago could have been different. But it was Laniers three years with the Bonnies that helped solidify their spot in college basketball lore, and helped catapult Lanier to a Hall of Fame professional basketball career. Greg Sanders That would have really been disastrous. Winn is also second all-time in steals with 319 and first in steals per game at 3.0 - he's also third all-time in Atlantic 10 career steals. My gratitude goes to the people featured in the blogs for sharing their memories and to Dennis Frank, SBU Archivist. It was the next-to-last game of his radio tenure that was recalled with fondness. If I went one more step, I would have run into him. Hagan led all scorers, including the Herron brothers of Villanova, with 26 points, and Barron added 13 points in only 22 minutes of play. Hagan was great at that, getting to the basket and getting [the ball] to the right guys. The games were often the topic of wintertime conversations at school, the neighbors hoop, the dinner table, and really anywhere in the community. OSU was ranked #1 in both the UPI and AP postseason polls; SBU came in third place in both rankings. Bob transcended race, united a campus and, by the way, was one of the best basketball players who ever lived. What made the victory more memorable was that it marked the Bonnies first return to post-season action since the 1983 NIT (a 90-76 loss to Iona). In an email to The News, the athletic department outlined its protocols for athletes who return to campus. The NCAA announced the cancellation of all winter and spring. Donovan called a timeout, and Stith headed to the team huddle with his head down, thinking that he was being pulled from the game for committing the foul. Boeheims assessment in the same story echoed respect for the Bona offensive threat in saying, We couldnt play zone here, not with the shooters they have., The Bona backcourt of Baron and Hagan got into early foul trouble, but Satalins squad got 18 bench points from Dan Viglianco (8 points), Delmar Harrod (5 points), and Nick Urzetta (5 points). Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. pic.twitter.com/a3ynIFGshp. (); : He had scholarship offers to more than 80 colleges to play basketball, but stayed close to home at Bona. He compiles the Hot 150 list of football players to watch in Orange County before each season. (); : Lanier averaged 26.2 points and 15.6 rebounds per game. Saint Louis opened the second half with a 9-1 run in the first 2:31, which forced the Bonnies to call an early timeout. He also was a longtime spokesperson and chairman of the NBA's "Stay in School" program, later renamed "Read to Achieve," a reading-engagement initiative supported by NBA and WNBA teams. You have permission to edit this article. Playing at a time in college basketball when players werent eligible to play at the varsity level until their sophomore year, Stith also collected 620 rebounds, rather impressive for a 6-2 guard/forward. But coming out of the media timeout, the Bonnies answered with a 7-2 run, then opened their lead to 15 points with less than 10 minutes left in the game. He was a consensus All-American each season. I cant sleep thinking about those memories . Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Send us Feedback 2005- 2023 SportSpyder, LLC All rights reserved. Just how good was the story. They responded. In launching this blog, I hope that fans enjoy the memories of some special games, both wins and losses, through the years. His #22 jersey was raised to the Reilly Center rafters upon his 1969 induction to the Universitys Athletics Hall of Fame. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. Combing through them uncovered an array of Bona gems. The OTH called it the upset of upsets in Little Three basketball history. And win #100 was never reached. Niagara and Duquesne upended St. Bonaventure toward the end of the regular season with the consecutive setbacks occurring within five days of each other. Essie Hollis and Hagan led Bona scorers with 25 and 21 points, respectively. Though growing up closer to Olean than to Winston-Salem, Chappell took his high school experience from a small town near Johnstown, PA, to become a two-time ACC Player of the Year. He didnt need the ball at all. (); : I dont mean this to be trite: We honestly loved each other and would go through the wall for each other, Lanier said, recalling the preseason goal the team had set for itself over beers and burgers at The Burton. Hollis was a second round pick of the New Orleans Jazz in 1977 and also played for the Detroit Pistons (1978-79). In fact, the Bonnies accepted the NCAA bid a month before the tournament started. The men's basketball team's 2019-20 season ended March 12, before it played its first game in the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament. The 2014-15 St. Bonaventure Bonnies men's basketball team represented St. Bonaventure University during the 2014-15 NCAA Division I men's basketball season.The Bonnies, led by eighth year head coach Mark Schmidt, played their home games at the Reilly Center and were members of the Atlantic 10 Conference.They finished the season 18-13, 10-8 in A-10 play to finish in a three way tie for . "For more than 30 years, Bob served as our global ambassador and as a special assistant to David Stern and then me, traveling the world to teach the games values and make a positive impact on young people everywhere," Silver said in a statement this morning. Dont foul. Yet, to the surprise of many, they did get an NIT invite. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Mr. Jester was born at St. Francis Hospital in. 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With 30 seconds left, Jim Baron seemingly stole the ball from Rutgers guard Mike Dabney in open court where the Bonnies were poised to score and tie the game at 82. The Bonnies made Bramah's list of three finalists . He rebounded.. We were good that year, Satalin recalled. A prolific scorer, Crawford established the SBU men's basketball scoring record for sophomores with 614 points in 1960-61. According to the Bennett Alumni Associations Sports Hall of Fame page, Lanier was an All-High selection as a junior and as a senior for the Tigers, averaging 25 points per game his senior year. Welcome! Bona took a 36-26 lead with less than five minutes left in the first half, part of a 17-3 run that helped the Bonnies to a 48-32 lead at halftime. That gave us an opportunity to call timeout and say, OK, we have plenty of time here. "As fierce and as dominant as Bob was on the court, he was equally kind and impactful in the community," Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores said in a statement. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Along with an online fan vote and at games this season resulting in over 2,000 votes, a group of Olean Times Herald columnist and former sports editor Chuck Pollock and former beat writer Mike Vaccaro '89 along with current Olean Times Herald sports editor JP Butler '07 and longtime voice of the Bonnies Gary Nease selected from a group of 60 players for All-Time Team consideration. Birdsongs scoring prowess hadnt declined during the Cougars run. Orange Lutheran (17-7): Lancers play JSerra, Santa Margarita and Anaheim this week. Nick Mogavero, the coach who cut Lanier, told The News in 1990 that he wanted Laniers stamina and coordination to catch up with his 6-foot-6, 240-pound frame. Crean Lutheran (18-3): Saints can clinch the Empire League title outright with a victory against Pacifica on Tuesday. "Becky" Millis Field, 59, of Olean, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022, at her home. Meanwhile, Ohio State featured a powerful squad, highlighted by All-American and US Olympic star center Jerry Lucas who averaged 25 points and 18 rebounds a game. He more than handled it for us. Over his Bonnies career, Adams was a three-time First Team All-Atlantic 10 selection. The defensive guy played me for the charge, so I pulled up and banked it off the backboard, Stith remembered. The 6-foot-6 forward from Syracuse, N.Y. averaged 20 points per game over his four years with the team. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. Sign Up Today! One of the main article in the sports section headlined, The Fortress Falls100 Never CameJoy for OneTears for Another.. Low 29F. The front page had no story of the consecutive home wins. Billy Packer, the famed Wellsville (NY)-born television analyst who covered 34 consecutive Final Fours, wouldnt have been courtside at that point. Not only because it was a return to the tournament, but it was also a win, and it was a game that the Reilly Center hadnt seen in a long timegetting to play a post-season game and come away with a win, he said. The Olean Times Herald storyheadlined Pipe-Dreamer Couldnt Have Improved on Bonas Victorycredited that basket with 15 seconds left as deciding the game and keeping the streak alive. 71. College basketball season is scheduled to begin with practices at the end of September, and the regular season is scheduled to open Nov. 10. Then there was 6-8 Tim Waterman, a true center that even Satalin acknowledged was missing from the previous year. He hauled in 706 rebounds over his career, averaging 8.5 per contest. 14 jersey hangs in the Reilly Center rafters and he was selected to the Athletics Hall of Fame. There was a problem saving your notification. Would you like to receive our daily headlines? An eight-time NBA All-Star and member of the 1970-71 All-Rookie team, Lanier scored more than 19,000 points over his 14-year career with Detroit and Milwaukee, averaging 20.1 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.1 steals while shooting 51.4 percent from the field. I've worked in sports journalism since 1997 and I have covered everything from college football to the Stanley Cup playoffs, high school sports and the NCAA Tournament. Eastern 8 newspapers? Bob Woollard, a 6-10 center later drafted by the New York Knicks, scored 10 points and grabbed 11 rebounds off the Wake Forest bench to contribute to the Demon Deacon win. Hollis got into early foul trouble in the 85-72 loss. The 1994-1995 team brought impressive victories to the Reilly Center that included wins over SEC foes Mississippi State and Mississippi as well as over Louisville, Virginia Tech, and VCU. He helped Bona to three NIT berths and one NCAA Tournament and went on to play for the New York Knicks. Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Since that setback, Houston went 20-4 with the most recent loss to #7 Arkansas in the championship of Southwest Conference tournament. Another free throw by Bonnie guard Glenn Hagan extended the lead to 92-89 before Birdsong hit a baskethis last field goal in the final nine minutesto close it to a one-point Bona lead. Santa Margarita (13-6): Eagles can clinch third in the Trinity League by defeating host Orange Lutheran on Wednesday. It was a tough call to have at that particular time of the game, and that saved them their undefeated season, he said. At 14-4 on the season, the Bonnies were looking to rebound in facing Syracuse (#17) in the Reilly Center. After the final buzzer in the Bradley Center, Tommasino signed off for the final time, taking along the fond memories of many Bona games courtside and a most inspiring NIT win over Southern Mississippi. In Fall 1976, Jim Satalin knew his team was good. He pinned the shotit may have been taken by Havlicek against the backboard in being whistled for the violation. Green left St. Bonaventure as one of the best guards in program history. A win may have vaulted the team into the 32-team NCAA tournament. He scored 19,248 points. The 76-77 Bonnies jumped out to an 11-3 record by the end of January, losing only at Georgetown and DePaul and to Princeton at the Rochester War Memorial in the championship of the Kodak College Basketball Classic. We tried to create a lot. The team lost 6-7 forward/center Bob Rozyczko and his 17 points per game average to graduation, but the foursome of Hollis, Baron, Hagan, and Sanders brought a 55 points-per-game average into the 76-77 season. He earned a spot in the Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010. Ahead 37-36 at halftime, the Bonnies faced a persistent Wake Forest team that forced six lead changes in the second half. Nope, nope, he said without a second thought. A Bonaventure athletic department spokesperson confirmed Thursday to The News that mens basketball players will return to campus July 18 and 19 for offseason workouts, and womens basketball players will return to campus July 25. The point guard of the 1977 NIT Championship team, Hagan established the career assists record for the program with 486 (4.7 apg), a total that still ranks fourth today. Tom Stith, the two-time All-American and runner-up national player of the year that season, scored 34 points, while Freddie Crawford added 29 points. 16 jersey retired by the Pistons and Bucks, to whom Lanier was traded in 1980. A member of the 1970 NCAA Final Four team, Gantt scored 992 points and averaged 13.6 points per game during his career. In the 2014 Atlantic 10 tournament, the Bonnies were defeated by Saint Joseph's the semifinals. He also writes about high school football recruiting, including The Register's annual FAB 15 teams that list the top high school football players in the Western U.S. before National Signing Day. Still the Purple Eagles of Niagara nearly sent SBU fans home from the Armory in shock. Looking back 45 years later, Satalin recalled, It was certainly a challenge for me to coach against someone of that stature, but I felt ok going into the game. Then there was an unusual item, something related to a Bona defeat to Wake Forest Collegeits name at that timein March 1961.