ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. — Lajae Jones led the charge as St. Bonaventure narrowly secured a 73-72 victory over UMass on Wednesday. Jones was instrumental in the Bonnies’ success, contributing 15 points along with six rebounds, three steals, and three blocks.
Complementing Jones’ performance, Melvin Council Jr. chipped in with 14 points. Council was active on both ends, going 6 for 14 from the field, though he struggled from beyond the arc, missing all five of his attempts. He also recorded six rebounds, dished out five assists, and made four steals. Noel Brown offered solid shooting, scoring 14 points by hitting 5 of 8 field goals and making 4 out of 5 free throws.
UMass put up a strong fight, with Daniel Hankins-Sanford leading their efforts. He accumulated 22 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and stole the ball three times in an impressive showing. Helping to keep the game close, Rahsool Diggins added 18 points for the Minutemen, and Jaylen Curry contributed 16 points to their cause.
Looking ahead, both St. Bonaventure and UMass have one more game in the regular season on Saturday. The Bonnies will hit the road to face Davidson, while UMass will play at home against Loyola Chicago.
