The PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh was alive with March Madness energy as the fourth-seeded Dayton Flyers outlasted the No. 13 seed St. Bonaventure Bonnies, 68-63, in the Atlantic 10 Tournament quarterfinals on Friday afternoon. For Dayton, this hard-fought win not only avenged recent early exits from the A-10 tourney but also punched their ticket to a high-stakes semifinal showdown against top-seeded Saint Louis. For St. Bonaventure, the loss marked the end of a spirited tournament run—and the close of an era, as longtime head coach Mark Schmidt stepped away from the bench after 19 memorable seasons.
Coming into this matchup, the Bonnies (17-17) were riding a wave of momentum. They had already pulled off upsets over No. 12 La Salle and No. 5 George Mason, the latter a gritty 63-57 comeback fueled by a late 13–2 run. Dasonte Bowen poured in 20 points in that game, with Frank Mitchell and Cayden Charles chipping in 14 and 12, respectively. The Bonnies’ ability to get to the free-throw line proved crucial, as they notched 18 points from the charity stripe despite both teams shooting just above 40% from the field.
Dayton (22-10), meanwhile, entered the quarterfinals with fresh legs after a double-bye and a top-four regular-season finish. The Flyers had stumbled in their regular-season finale, falling to VCU 68-62 and snapping a six-game win streak. But their prior meeting with St. Bonaventure in February had gone Dayton’s way, a narrow 72-70 victory in which the Flyers’ proficiency at the free-throw line (28-for-33) made all the difference. Javon Bennett led the scoring charge in that one, and the trend continued in Friday’s quarterfinal clash.
From the opening tip at 2:00 PM Eastern, it was clear both teams understood what was at stake. The Bonnies, playing with house money after two upsets, came out with energy. But Dayton’s defense and discipline kept them in check, especially in the game’s pivotal moments. The Flyers’ star guard, Javon Bennett, was simply electric. He torched the Bonnies for 27 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including a blistering six three-pointers. Bennett’s shot-making and poise under pressure were the difference-makers, and he wasn’t shy about crediting his teammates and the moment after the game.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” Bennett said. “You come in every year trying to play as far as you can in March. Just being able to win and do it with this group of guys and what we’ve been through this season, it means a lot.”
Dayton coach Anthony Grant echoed the sentiment, praising his team’s resilience and the clutch performances of his backcourt. “Our guys did a heck of a job of battling and persevering through all of it, on both sides of the ball, and found ways to make enough plays defensively and offensively,” Grant said. “(Javon Bennett and Jordan Derkack) were tremendous tonight, just in terms of their ability to make plays, offensively getting to the free-throw line, just scoring the ball, just really taking some of the pressure off what wasn’t a great night for us offensively.”
Jordan Derkack, another key cog for the Flyers, added 15 points and was a force at the free-throw line. He finished 10-for-12 from the stripe, with a cool 7-of-8 in the second half. “When I’m in the game, all I can really think about is trying to win,” Derkack said. “Always preaching let’s figure out a way to win this game. In that case, I thought that getting fouled and getting to the free-throw line was going to be the best possible situation for us to win.”
Forward Amael L’etang contributed a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds, providing toughness in the paint and crucial second-chance opportunities. The Flyers’ ability to get to the line and convert under pressure was a recurring theme, just as it had been in their regular-season win over the Bonnies.
St. Bonaventure, for their part, refused to go quietly. Buddy Simmons led the Bonnies with 20 points, while Frank Mitchell delivered a strong 16 points and six rebounds. The Bonnies, who had all five starters score in double digits in their previous meeting with Dayton, found themselves in another tight battle. But this time, the Flyers’ late-game execution and defensive stops proved too much to overcome.
The game’s intensity was palpable down the stretch. St. Bonaventure made several pushes, but each time, Dayton responded with a timely bucket or a trip to the free-throw line. As the final seconds ticked away, the Flyers’ bench erupted, knowing they had finally broken through to the semifinals after two straight years of quarterfinal heartbreak—losses to Duquesne and St. Joseph’s that still stung in the memory of returning players and fans.
For St. Bonaventure, the loss was bittersweet. It marked the final game for head coach Mark Schmidt, who had announced his intention to retire after the season. Schmidt leaves behind a legacy of toughness and overachievement, having led the Bonnies for 19 seasons following a six-year stint at Robert Morris. After the game, Schmidt was characteristically candid and reflective. “Yeah, you’re disappointed. I wish we could go on and win the national championship, but only one team is going to do that,” Schmidt said. “So you’re disappointed in that. You’re disappointed in having your players lose and seeing their faces in the locker room. But yeah, I’m content, and I can’t wait to get the hell out of here, stop talking to you (reporters) and go drink some beer.”
With the win, Dayton advances to face the top-seeded Saint Louis Billikens (28-4) in the semifinals at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Flyers split their regular-season series with Saint Louis, dropping a lopsided 102-71 decision in January before bouncing back with a 77-62 victory in late February. The quick turnaround means little rest for the Flyers, but Coach Grant is embracing the challenge. “At the end of the day, this time of year, it’s about surviving and advancing,” Grant said. “So we’re excited that we get a chance to compete again tomorrow.”
As the Atlantic 10 Tournament rolls on in Pittsburgh, Dayton’s fans can savor a breakthrough win, while St. Bonaventure closes the book on an inspiring run and a remarkable coaching era. With March’s unpredictability in full swing, all eyes now turn to the Flyers’ next test against a formidable Billikens squad.