The Bona Venture

Issue date: 2/16/07 Section: Men's Basketball

Media Credit: Ray Reynolds Zarryon Fereti made a 3-pointer as time expired to send the home opener against Central Arkansas into overtime. The Bonnies won, 69-64.

While the men's basketball team is decidedly lacking in highlights this season, guard Zarryon Fereti may have the two most memorable ones. His leaning, double-pump 3-pointer as time ran out against Central Arkansas forced overtime and helped the Bonnies escape from their home-opener with a win, and his 26 points, along with a critical block after a turnover late in the game, allowed the Bonnies to knock off Saint Louis in the opening game of Atlantic 10 conference play.

But the enduring memory of Fereti's season in the Brown and White will likely be his dismissal from the team, which was announced in a statement by coach Anthony Solomon Monday afternoon.

"I'm sorry it had to come to this," Solomon said in the statement. "He had ample opportunities to embrace the philosophies of the program."

Fereti, who was the team's second-leading scorer at 12.1 points per game, admitted his relationship with Solomon had been tense for some time but said things boiled over after the team's 69-62 loss to Dayton Saturday in the Reilly Center.

"We were supposed to execute a play, and the play didn't get executed, and I was upset about it," Fereti said. "Then the ball was turned over, and we didn't run back on defense. (While) running down the court, I was swearing because I was mad. I was frustrated … I'm not perfect. I know people are going to get frustrated, and that is part of life.

"So we had a timeout and he called me and pulled me away from the team and asked me what was wrong, and why I was so frustrated. I told him about the play, and whether he interpreted it however he did, I don't know … it might have come out of my mouth totally different, but then he subbed in Terron (Diggs) for me. Then we went into the locker room (after the game), and things kind of blew up a little bit.

"He started yelling and came in and said my name and told me I was selfish for getting mad about that play. I don't remember if he said anything else, and then he just told me to pretty much pack my bags and leave, and I just said 'OK.'"

Continued...

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