St. Bonaventure defeated La Salle 99-80 in the first round of the Atlantic 10 Championship at PPG Paints Arena on Wednesday, delivering an emphatic response after falling to the Explorers earlier in the season. The victory marks a turning point for a program that started strong but struggled down the stretch, finishing the regular season 15-16 overall and 4-14 in Atlantic 10 play.
The win carries special significance as St. Bonaventure head coach Mark Schmidt announced his retirement at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season. Schmidt retires as the winningest coach in program history, with 339 career victories, three NCAA appearances, three NIT appearances, two regular-season A-10 championships and two A-10 tournament championships. Wednesday's victory keeps the legendary coach's final tournament run alive, giving his team another chance to write a meaningful ending to his 19-year tenure.
Buddy Simmons II has emerged as an elite scoring option in Atlantic 10 play, averaging 17.6 points while shooting 46.4 percent from the floor and 45.5 percent from beyond the arc, with 86 three-pointers made on the season. Meanwhile, forward Frank Mitchell has been one of the most productive players on the boards this season, averaging 10.5 rebounds per game to lead all Atlantic 10 players, and combined for 53 points and 47 rebounds in his last three games.
St. Bonaventure will continue in the Atlantic 10 tournament, which runs through March 15 at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. The 13th-seeded Bonnies now advance in a tournament structure where every game matters—both for NCAA Tournament hopes and for the chance to send their retiring coach off on a winning note. With the talent and momentum now on full display, this team has plenty more to prove.