Davidson Ends St. Bonaventure Winning Streak At 13; Focus Turns To Selection Sunday

WASHINGTON – Peyton Aldridge and Kellen Grady combined to stroke ten three-pointers , and Davidson ended St. Bonaventure’s 13-game conference winning streak while keeping its own NCAA Tournament hopes with an 82-70 win Saturday in the semifinals of Atlantic Tournament.
Davidson (20-11) advances to play conference powerhouse Rhode Island (25-6) in the A-10 Tournament final on Sunday, with an automatic bid to next week’s NCAA Tournament at stake.
Matt Mobley made 5 of 16 three-pointers, and the Bonnies were 7 of 24 as a team from beyond the arc.
Davidson used its three point shooting prowess (16-29) to keep St.Bonaventure off balance on the defensive end.
The Wildcats made 10 of their 16 three pointers in the first half.
“We had great ball movement in the 1st half,”said Peyton Aldridge. “We put them (Bonnies) in a scrambling mode.”
Many experts believe that Davidson’s NCAA Tournament hopes depend on whether they can beat top-seed Rhode Island in the championship game on Sunday.
Right now, the Wildcats RPI rating or rating percentage index, which is used to rank NCAA team’s win and losses and its strength of schedule, is 74.
Only 65 teams make the tournament.
In contrast, St. Bonaventure’s RPI rating is 21.
Davidson Head Coach Bob McKillop made his position clear on St. Bonaventure’s tournament hopes following the game.
“They certainly are deserving of an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament,”said McKillop.
Davidson had fallen short of making the A-10 Tournament final the last three consecutive years.
“It’s a great feeling,” said Peyton Aldridge.
St. Bonaventure was without Courtney Stockard, who strained his hamstring in Friday’s win over Richmond.
His injury is not considered serious.
St. Bonaventure will travel back to Olean tonight and await word on an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament on Sunday.
The Bonnies have not made the tournament since 2012.