Feature photo courtesy of gobonnies.com

The No. 23 St. Bonaventure Bonnies used a massive second-half to overcome a slow start and pick up their first win as a ranked opponent in 50 years on Tuesday, defeating Siena 75-47 to open the season on Tuesday night in Olean.

Link to full box score, click HERE.

• SBU opened the game slow, trailing by as many as 10 in the first half.
• Despite the slow start, the Bonnies turned on the jets late in the first half, eventually grabbing a four-point lead at the break and never looking back.
• The Bonnies used a 31-8 run over a majority of the second half after Siena got within three points early in the half.
• Kyle Lofton and Jaren Holmes led the Bonnies and all scorers with 17 points each. Lofton added six dimes and six boards, while Holmes went 2-4 from three.
• Buffalo’s Dominick Welch scored 11 points and secured a team-high 7 rebounds.
• SBU out-scored Siena 39-15 in the second half, while shooting 59.3 percent in the second half, and 50 percent for the game.
• Osun Osunniyi scored nine points and had seven blocks in just 22 minutes. The big man checked back into the game briefly in the second half, but did exit again. It could have been precautionary with such a big lead. We’ll keep an eye on that for Saturday.

Slow start by St. Bonaventure tonight but boy are they stifling on defensive side of the court!

Bonnies outscored Siena 39-15 in the second half on their way to a 75-47 victory.

SBU held the Saints to 34% from the field. They're one of the best defensive teams in the country.

— Mike Bundt (@Mike_Bundt) November 10, 2021

SBU Opening Night 1957: 76-47 over Siena

SBU Opening Night 2021: 75-47 over Siena

— Chuckie Maggio (@chuckiemaggio) November 10, 2021

The Bonnies are back in action on Sunday when they host Canisius at 5 p.m. The two teams did not play last season due to COVID-19, but in 2019, it was Canisius upsetting the Bonnies 61-57 inside KeyBank Center as part of the Big 4 Doubleheader on November 23rd, 2019.