The run is over. And so is one of the greatest coaching careers in St. Bonaventure history.
Fourth-seeded Dayton held off a furious Bonnies charge Friday at PPG Paints Arena, defeating St. Bonaventure 68 to 63 in the Atlantic 10 quarterfinals. Dayton’s Javon Bennett was unstoppable — 27 points, eight of twelve from the field, six three-pointers. But Bona never quit. The Bonnies had Dayton within two points with under a minute to go — but went two for seven from the free throw line in those final moments and couldn’t finish.
Buddy Simmons II led the Bonnies with 20 points. Frank Mitchell added 16 and six rebounds. They left everything on that floor.
And with the final buzzer — Mark Schmidt’s nearly 40-year coaching career came to a close. In 19 seasons at St. Bonaventure, Schmidt finishes with 340 wins, two Atlantic 10 Tournament titles, two Coach of the Year awards, and three NCAA Tournament appearances.
Schmidt’s parting words for Bona Nation said it all: “That community in Olean and Allegany is prideful. Those people think Olean is the best place in the world.”
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