The Dayton Flyers will face St. Bonaventure in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 (A-10) tournament. The matchup is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Friday, setting the stage for a competitive showdown in the conference’s postseason play.
Dayton enters the game as the No. 4 seed with a 21-10 record. St. Bonaventure, holding a 17-16 record, is notably the lowest-seeded team to reach the quarterfinals. This achievement marks them as the first double-digit seed to advance to this stage since 2013.
In their recent history, Dayton narrowly defeated St. Bonaventure 72-70 on February 3 at UD Arena. Jordan Derkack secured the win by sinking two clutch free throws with just 2.3 seconds left. Prior to the tournament, Dayton had snapped a four-game losing streak with this win.
The Flyers hold a 3-3 historical record against St. Bonaventure in A-10 tournament play. Their last encounter in this event was in 2015, when Dayton edged out St. Bonaventure 75-71 in the quarterfinals. This backdrop adds an extra layer of rivalry heading into Friday’s game.
St. Bonaventure’s path to the quarterfinals was dramatic and hard-fought. They pulled off a 99-80 victory over No. 12 seed La Salle in the first round, responding to a recent tough loss at home against Davidson. That loss was by a close margin of 68-63, signaling their resilience in postseason competition.
Coach Mark Schmidt of St. Bonaventure commented on his team’s grit this season. He praised their effort despite earlier struggles and emphasized the life lessons learned through adversity. Schmidt announced he will retire after the 2025-26 season, making this tournament run particularly meaningful.
During the second-round game against George Mason, St. Bonaventure showed remarkable composure. After trailing 44-33 and later 55-50, the Bonnies mounted a pivotal 13-2 run to tie the game. They subsequently secured a comeback victory to advance further.
It is worth noting that George Mason had swept St. Bonaventure during the regular season, winning both matchups by margins of four and 13 points. This turnaround in the tournament underscores St. Bonaventure’s ability to adapt and elevate their play under pressure.
The upcoming quarterfinal game represents a critical test for Dayton, which aims to leverage its higher seed and previous head-to-head success. For St. Bonaventure, the game symbolizes a chance to continue their surprising and inspiring tournament journey as underdogs.
Both teams will look to capitalize on their strengths and execute winning strategies. Fans can expect a closely contested game driven by determination, past experience, and the high stakes of the A-10 postseason.
Read more at: www.daytondailynews.com
