Nicholson Reaches Scoring, Rebounding Milestones in Loss to Dukes

January 7, 2012 PITTSBURGH – Andrew Nicholson scored all 11 of his points in the second half to put the Bonnies in striking distance, but Duquesne (10-6, 1-1 Atlantic 10) responded with a 13-0 run to pull ahead en route to a 66-52 victory over St. Bonaventure (8-6, 1-1) at the Palumbo Center. Nicholson added six rebounds and stormed into the second half by scoring 10 of the Bonnies' first 13 points. The senior became the 10th player in school history to score more than 1,700 in a career (1,710 - ninth all-time) and moved to ninth on career rebounds ledger (711). Duquesne had built a 29-23 halftime cushion, but was in front just 39-37 after Nicholson – who played six first-half minutes due to two fouls – scored on a dunk, put back and fadeaway, all before a traditional three-point play ignited SBU in the final frame. Duquesne junior guard Sean Johnson sparked the Dukes rally though, netting 15 of his game-high 17 in the second half as DU put together a decisive 13-0 response over a 4:28 span. Johnson converted back-to-back three-point plays in transition – one on a one-handed feed from guard T.J. McConnell – to put the Dukes in control for good. McConnell finished with 13 points, eight assists and seven rebounds and four steals. Eric Mosley and Matthew Wright added nine apiece for St. Bonaventure, with junior Demitrius Conger totaling eight to go with a game-best nine rebounds. The Bonnies return to the Reilly Center on Wednesday to host Dayton (12-4, 2-0) in an Atlantic 10 contest televised live by Fox Sports Ohio. Game time is set for 7 p.m. NOTES: The game featured the league's top scoring offense (DU-78.5) and the second-best scoring defense (SBU-61.6) … Nicholson's 1,700th career point came on an emphatic two-handed dunk ... St. Bonaventure is Duquesne's most-played opponent (107 meetings) … the last Bona win at Duquesne was Feb. 24, 2007 (0-4) … Jake Houseknecht's and-1 tied the game at 18 … the Bonnies last started 2-0 in A-10 play in 2000-01 … SBU has not defeated Dayton since Feb. 3, 2002.