NEW HAVEN, Conn. - For the second straight game, Antonio Bonilla (Tenafly, N.J.) led the Albertus Magnus College men's basketball team in scoring as the junior guard finished with a career-high 36 points behind a program-best 10 made three-pointers to help lead the Falcons to a thrilling 95-75 home victory over Saint Joseph's College of Maine on Saturday afternoon inside "The Nest".
In addition to Bonilla, Justice Washington (Hamden, Conn.) and Terry Dawkins (Bronx, N.Y.) each recorded double-doubles in tonight's contest. Washington put together a 13-point, 13-rebound performance, while Dawkins was equally dominant with a 16-point, 13-rebound showing.
Tazhon Daniels (New Haven, Conn.) also had a nice game for the Falcons, scoring 14 points with five rebounds, eight assists, and four steals.
THE BASICS
Final: Albertus Magnus 95 | Saint Joseph's College of Maine 75
Records: Albertus Magnus (12-7, 10-2 GNAC) | Saint Joseph's College of Maine (8-9, 4-5 GNAC)
Box Score
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Falcons raced out to the early 8-3 lead over the first 2:41 of play behind a made jumper from Washington and a pair of made three-pointers from Bonilla.
- The Monks responded with their own 8-3 run over the next few minutes to tie the game at 11-all with just over 15 minutes remaining in the half.
- With the score tied at 14-14, the Falcons surged ahead as a three from Bonilla and a layup from Washington pushed the hosts ahead, 19-14, but a 7-6 push from the Monks cut the deficit to four, 25-21.
- Shortly after, Bonilla nailed his third trey of the night at the 9:07 mark to push the Albertus advantage to seven, 28-21.
- A Monks' jumper was immediately countered by the offensive force of Bonilla, who nailed another three-pointer to give Albertus the 31-23 lead.
- The Falcons continued to pile on the pressure putting together a 9-4 run, including a trey from Bonilla and a two-handed dunk by Saikwon Williams (Norwalk, Conn.), but the Monks finished the half with an 8-3 run and sent the teams into the locker room with the Falcons holding the 44-35 advantage.
- The Monks carried their first-half momentum into the second by opening the second with a 5-2 run to cut the deficit to six, 46-40, before a Dakwins jumper gave the hosts an eight-point cushion, 48-40, with 17:50 on the clock.
- The teams traded baskets for the next few minutes, running the score to 57-49, with Bonilla hitting a three-point jumper at 15:28.
- The Monks answered back with an 8-4 surge to make it a four-point game, 61-57, with just over 14 minutes left on the clock and forcing Albertus to call a timeout.
- Out of the break, the Falcons rallied for a 15-2 run that saw Bonilla hit three-point paydirt three times in a row to give the blue-and-white the 76-59 lead.
- The Monks responded with a 9-4 rally to trim the deficit to 12, 80-68, with just over four minutes left in regulation, but the Falcons kept up the pressure for the remainder of the game, as the hosts used a 15-7 run to secure the 95-75 conference victory.
TEAM STATS
Albertus: 47.9% FG | 45.8% 3PT | 76.2% FT
SJC: 43.8% FG | 31.4% 3PT | 80% FT
PLAYER HIGHLIGHTS
Albertus:
Antonio Bonilla- 36 points (13-22 FG, 10-16 3PT) | 1 rebound | 1 assist
Terry Dawkins- 16 points (7-13 FG, 2-3 FT) | 13 rebounds | 1 assist | 1 steal
Tazhon Daniels- 14 points (3-8 FG, 1-5 3PT, 7-8 FT) | 5 rebounds | 8 assists | 4 steals
Justice Washington- 13 points (5-9 FG, 3-3 FT) | 13 rebounds | 1 assist
Saint Joseph's (ME):
John Paul Frazier- 17 points (6-13 FG, 4-8 3PT, 1-1 FT) | 1 rebound | 1 assist | 2 steals | 1 block
Griffin Foley- 15 points (6-14 FG, 1-5 3PT, 2-3 FT) | 2 rebounds | 10 assists | 3 steals
NOTEWORTHY
- Today's game was the 28th all-time meeting between the Falcons and Monks.
- Albertus is now 19-9 all-time against Saint Joseph's College of Maine following tonight's home victory.
- Bonilla recorded the first 30-point game of his career.
- Bonilla's 10 three-pointers are a program best.
- Washington secured his sixth-straight double-double.
- Dawkins picked up his eighth double-double of the season.
- Daniels recorded a season-high eight assists.
- Kevin Crawford (Bridgeport, Conn.) posted a season-high 10 rebounds.
UP NEXT
Albertus returns to the court on Tuesday, January 31st, for a conference road tilt against No.1 University of Saint Joseph (CT). Tip-off is set for 7 PM inside the O'Connell Center in West Hartford, Conn.