By: Ben Metcalf
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FAIRFAX, Va. – The St. Bonaventure men’s basketball team will face the first of back-to-back games in the DMV at George Mason on Saturday (Feb. 28) at EagleBank Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET, and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
BUDDY BUCKETS
Buddy Simmons II has emerged as an elite scoring option in Atlantic 10 play, averaging 18.5 points through 15 conference games while shooting 47.9 percent (103-for-215) from the floor and 46.2 percent (48-for-104) from beyond the arc.
Simmons II has scored at least 14 points in 11-of-15 of his A-10 matchups, with 20-or-more points in six of those games and two 30-plus point performances.
The Detroit native ranks second in the conference with 78 three-pointers made on the season. He has made multiple three-pointers in each of his last 10 games, and in 23 of the Bonnies’ 28 total games.
In conference play, Simmons II has made 48 triples, the most in the A-10. His 37.4 minutes per game lead the league, and he has played a full 40 minutes in eight of SBU’s 15 conference game so far.
Simmons II surpassed 1,000 career points in the Bonnies’ win at Fordham (Feb. 7). He reached the millennium mark with five points in the first half before surging for 18 in the second half to lead the Bonnies to the win.
Simmons II scored 628 points over two years at Gardner-Webb before posting a team-best 449 through 27 games this season. He tallied 539 of his 628 points with the Runnin’ Bulldogs during his sophomore season (2024-25).
TO BE FRANK
St. Bonaventure forward Frank Mitchell has been one of the most productive players on the boards in the country this season.
Mitchell is averaging 9.9 rebounds per game, which leads all players in the Atlantic 10 conference. As of Friday (Feb. 27), he is in the top 15 in Division I with 277 total rebounds. He is one of just two St. Bonaventure players in the last four years to surpass 200 total rebounds in a season (Chance Moore, 207; 2024-25).
A remarkable number of Mitchell’s rebounds have come on the offensive end. His 4.29 offensive rebounds per game (120 total) leads the nation.
Mitchell has tallied double-digit offensive rebounds two games this season, with a season-best 11 against Colgate (Dec. 10) and 10 vs. Ohio (Dec. 13). The forward has at least four offensive boards in each of his last four games.
Mitchell is no stranger to the top of the national rebounding leaderboards. In 2023-24 with Canisius, he averaged 11.6 rebounds per game, the fourth-most in Division I.
In the scoring column, Mitchell has scored in double figures in 24 of 28 games this season, with 20-or-more points in nine of those games.
Mitchell has posted four straight double-doubles entering Saturday’s game. Most recently, he recorded 23 points and 10 rebounds against Rhode Island (Feb. 26).
The Toronto native now more than twice as many double-doubles (16) as the next leading players in the Atlantic 10 (Rafael Castro, GW & Rikus Schulte, Fordham; 7).
COUNT ON CAYDEN
Cayden Charles has been pivotal to the Bonnies’ offense in conference play. The 6-foot-3 guard is averaging 14.0 points and 6.4 rebounds in St. Bonaventure’s 15 Atlantic 10 games.
The senior has scored at least nine points in 19 straight games, grabbing at least five rebounds in 16 games during that span.
SWAT TEAM
Andrew Osasuyi and Joe Grahovac have provided much-needed rim protection off bench this season. Both rank in the top five in the Atlantic 10 in blocked shots per game, with Osasuyi ranking third (1.7 bpg) and Grahovac ranking fourth (1.6 bpg).
The pair each have 45 blocks on the season, becoming the only two St. Bonaventure teammates to post 30-or-more blocks in the same season during Mark Schmidt’s tenure (2007-present).
Osasuyi has 25 blocks in his last nine games, which comes out to an average of 2.8 blocks per game.
On the offensive end, Osasuyi has scored at least five points in each of his last five games, averaging 7.8 points per game during that span. He has done so efficiently, shooting 90 percent (18-for-20) from the floor over the last five games.
GEORGE MASON NOTES:
George Mason enters Saturday’s game at 21-7, with a 9-6 record in Atlantic 10 play.
The Patriots have lost five of their last six games, and each of their last four.
George Mason is led by guard Kory Mincy, who averages 14.9 points per game.
The Bonnies are 12-7 all-time against George Mason.
Mark Schmidt is 10-6 against the Patriots in his tenure.
George Mason won the last matchup between the two schools on Jan. 31, 77-73. Mincy scored 22 points to lift the Patriots to the win.