In a stunning turn of events, St. Bonaventure pulled off a significant upset at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse, taking down Duquesne 87-79. This outcome was a far cry from the predicted 5.6-point margin in favor of Duquesne, as CHD Scout's forecast proved incorrect. The Bonnies' impressive performance was led by Darryl Simmons II, who exploded for 31 points to guide his team to victory.
Duquesne, with a 148 net ranking, was expected to dominate the contest, but St. Bonaventure had other plans. The Bonnies trailed 39-35 at halftime but came out firing in the second half, outscoring the Dukes 52-40. This surge was fueled by Simmons II's scorching hot shooting, as well as key contributions from Dasonte Bowen, who chipped in 19 points and 6 assists. Cayden Charles also made his presence felt, hauling in 9 rebounds to go along with his 9 points.
On the other side, Duquesne's Tarence Guinyard put on a show, tallying 12 points and 12 assists in a valiant effort. However, it wasn't enough to overcome the Bonnies' balanced attack. David Dixon and Jimmie Williams added 12 and 11 points, respectively, but the Dukes' offense ultimately fell short.
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Final
The implications of this upset cannot be overstated. As a Quadrant 3 game for both teams, the result will have a significant impact on their respective resumes. For St. Bonaventure, the win boosts their tournament chances, as they improve to 13-8 on the season. Meanwhile, Duquesne's loss drops them to 11-10, and they must regroup to stay in the postseason conversation.
This victory is a major statement for St. Bonaventure, as they prove they can compete with – and beat – teams ranked higher than them. The Bonnies' ability to adapt and overcome adversity matters in their pursuit of a tournament bid. On the flip side, Duquesne must reassess their strategy and find a way to bounce back from this disappointing defeat.
As the season enters its final stretch, both teams will be closely watched by tournament selectors. For now, St. Bonaventure's upset win over Duquesne will be a key talking point, and the Bonnies want to build on this momentum to strengthen their tournament resume. With this Q3 win, St. Bonaventure takes a significant step forward, while Duquesne must regroup and refocus to stay in the hunt.