BRONX, N.Y. – Shooting cures a number of ailments. It should be emphasized, accurate shooting. St. Bonaventure improved to 8-5 in Atlantic Ten play with an 89-63 victory over Fordham on Wednesday. The loss dropped the Rams to 2-11 in conference.
For starters, we take a look at the key offensive numbers in this one:
| Possessions | Efficiency | |
| St. Bonaventure | 66 | 135 |
| Fordham | 66 | 96 |
A moderate possession game, with a 52-minute delay in the first half to repair a broken rim, saw the Bonnies put up an outstanding efficiency. The eFG percentage of 71% came courtesy of 7 of 11 (63.6%) from three-point range. Inside, Andrew Nicholson (30 points, 9 rebounds) and Da’Quan Cook (16 points) handled the paint. The versatile Nicholson even stepped out to can two three-pointers.
Fordham received 18 points from junior Chris Gaston. The Rams could not match the Bonnies’ perimeter game shooting 3 of 19 (15.8%) from downtown.
“They are efficient scorers,” Fordham coach Tom Pecora said of the Bonnies. “In my mind (Andrew) Nicholson is the premier NBA prospect in the Atlantic Ten.”
Nicholson may very well be, but the talented senior center had some very good help in the winning effort.
Tuesday saw top ten Georgetown fall to a hot-shooting Seton Hall team, 73-55. A slower paced contest gave the following numbers, outstanding on the Pirate’s side:
| Possessions | Efficiency | |
| Georgetown | 54 | 102 |
| Seton Hall | 54 | 135 |
The offensive effort by Seton Hall was nothing short of stellar. The main component was a 71% eFG mark, largely based on an 8 of 13 performance from beyond the arc. Georgetown coach John Thompson III couldn’t ascertain whether Seton Hall is an NCAA tournament certainty. Thompson did say, “If they get in and shoot like that they will be playing for a few weeks.”
Jordan Theodore led the way with 29 points. Theodore was 5 of 5 from three-point range and handed out five assists. Seton Hall had four players in double figures. Georgetown has scorers and players able to step up, such as Henry Sims and Hollis Thompson to name a couple. None took the initiative and in somewhat of an oddity, did not have a player hit double digits. Greg Whittington led the way for the Hoyas with nine points.
Care of the ball (15% turnover rate) was in Seton Hall’s favor. Georgetown had a “borderline” 20% TO rate. But the damage was done as the Hall enjoyed a 14-4 advantage in points off turnovers.
Another note on eFG percentage. Effective field goal shooting gives a little more weight for a made three-pointer. A player can shoot 4 of 8 (50%) but if two of the field goals are beyond the arc, the eFG mark would be 63%. The formula:
eFG = FGM + (.5 * 3 PT FGM)/FGA
