St. Bonaventure vs. George Mason A-10 Championship 2nd Round Outlook St. Bonaventure’s Bonnies stunned La Salle with a 99-point performance in the A-10 tournament’s first round, but they face an uphill battle in the second round against George Mason. The Patriots, despite a regular-season record of 23-8, are favored at 3.5 points in the matchup. While George Mason holds a 4-2 record against St. Bonaventure this season, the Bonnies’ recent struggles on defense and in the A-10 regular season raise concerns about their chances. St. Bonaventure’s defensive struggles are evident, ranking 251st in KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency. The team’s 4-14 record in the A-10 during the regular season further highlights their challenges. Although their offense showed promise against La Salle, bettors are advised to temper expectations, as the win may not indicate sustained performance. George Mason’s strengths lie in its ability to exploit St. Bonaventure’s defensive vulnerabilities. The Patriots rank 33rd in free-throw rate and 31st in opponent free-throw rate, making them a threat to capitalize on turnovers. While their offense is not elite (100th in adjusted offensive efficiency), their focus on free throws compensates. Key player Kory Mincy, George Mason’s leading scorer, averages 14.0 points per game with a 45.0% field goal clip and 39.9% three-point shooting. However, his struggles against St. Bonaventure—converting just 27.3% of three-point attempts in two meetings—could limit his impact. Mincy’s recent performances, including 18 points in a loss to VCU and 15 points in a win over Saint Louis, suggest he could be a critical factor in the matchup. The game’s betting odds reflect George Mason’s slight edge, with the Patriots listed at -3.5 (-110) and St. Bonaventure at +3.5 (-110).#george_mason #st_bonaventure #a10_championship #kory_mincy #usa_network
St. Bonaventure vs. La Salle Odds and Tournament Prediction for 2026 Atlantic 10 Tournament The 2026 Atlantic 10 Tournament will tip off on Wednesday, with the first matchup set between the No. 12 seed La Salle Explorers and the No. 13 St. Bonaventure Bonnies. The Bonnies, with a 15-16 overall record and 4-14 conference mark, hold a slightly better season-long record than La Salle, which is 9-22 overall and 5-13 in the A-10. However, La Salle edged St. Bonaventure in the regular-season standings by a single game. This game marks the final tournament appearance for St. Bonaventure head coach Mark Schmidt, who will retire after 19 years with the program. La Salle holds an advantage in their head-to-head matchup, having defeated St. Bonaventure 78-74 on January 17. The game is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. ET at the PPG Paints Arena. Current odds list St. Bonaventure as 5.5-point favorites, with the over/under set at 144.5 points. SportsLine’s Projection Model, which has demonstrated strong performance in recent college basketball betting, simulated the matchup 10,000 times and revealed its predictions. The model is leaning toward the under, projecting a total of 143 points, which aligns with La Salle’s trend of landing on the under in 57% of its games this season. Two of St. Bonaventure’s past three games have also gone under, further supporting the model’s confidence in the under. The model’s projections for player performance include Darryl Simmons leading St. Bonaventure with 19 points, Frank Mitchell contributing 18.6 points, and La Salle’s Rob Dockery scoring 15.7 points. The combined total of 143 points is expected to hit 59% of the time, reinforcing the under as the favored outcome. The spread is set at St. Bonaventure -5.5, while the money line favors the Bonnies at -240, with La Salle at +197.#st_bonaventure #la_salle #atlantic_10_tournament #ppg_paints_arena #mark_schmidt
