• Blog
  • About Us
  • Links
  MAC Reporter Online

Buffalo edges SDSU in final minute

11/15/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
BUFFALO, NY – The Buffalo Bulls overcame a late deficit during the final minute of play, edging South Dakota State, 69-67, Friday night at Alumni Arena.  It was the first time since the 2011-12 season that the Bulls won their season opener.

It was a back-and-forth night for the two teams, who waited over 10 months for this contest after weather postponed the original date last January.  Despite a tough shooting night for the Bulls, UB was able to take advantage in the rebounding column and at the free throw line for the victory.


(CLICK READ MORE TO CONTINUE . . . )
The Bulls got out to an early five-point lead, the largest by either team in the first half.  It was just a one-point game at the half. 

Junior Justin Moss paced the Bulls early, recording 11 points and nine rebounds before the break.

South Dakota State built an early eight-point lead in the second half as it took a 41-33 advantage with 14:46 left.  Although the Bulls didn't have much success from behind the arc, UB got a huge three from sophomore Shannon Evans to end the run. 

Buffalo still trailed 47-40 with just under 12 minutes left when the Bulls went on an 11-0 run over a four and a half minute stretch, capped off on a tip-in three point play from Moss.

UB built its lead to 56-50 with 6:33 left, but a SDSU three-pointer pulled the Jackrabbits back within three.  A fast break steal and dunk from Xavier Ford gave the Bulls a 65-61 lead with just under two minutes left, but South Dakota State scored the next five points to take a 66-65 lead with 1:06 remaining. 

The Bulls were able to find a wide open Jarryn Skeete, who drove to the lane and put UB up for good with 41 seconds left.  Evans hit a couple free throws to give UB a 69-66 advantage and the Bulls fouled with less than three seconds left to remove the possibility of a three-point play.  SDSU hit one free throw but was unable to tie the game up as the Bulls came away with the win.

"It was a hard fought game tonight and even though we didn't play our best, I am happy to get a win to start the season," said head coach Bobby Hurley.  "We put an emphasis on our rebounding and our defense, and we were able to take advantage of that against a very physical team tonight."

Moss finished with career highs of 25 points and 13 rebounds while going a perfect 11-for-11 from the free throw line. His numbers could have been even higher, but Moss was limited by foul trouble before ultimately fouling out with 3:45 remaining.

Evans dropped 17 points as he picked up his first career start after coming off the bench in every game last season.  He added two assists and three steals. 

Freshman Lamonte Bearden led all players with six assists, while he also added eight points and a steal.  Bearden became the first UB freshman to start the season opener since Greg Gamble in 2005-06.

Ford nearly recorded a double-double off the bench as he finished with eight points and nine rebounds, while Skeete had four points and narrowly missed his career high in rebounds with eight.  Senior Will Regan also added four points and five rebounds.  Junior Rodell Wigginton scored three points and had two offensive rebounds in his UB debut.

As a team, the Bulls turned the ball over just eight times, while forcing South Dakota State into 14 turnovers.  UB also went 24-of-30 from the line in the contest, as opposed to South Dakota State, who went just 14-of-29.

The Bulls will have a quick turnaround as they hit the road for the first time this season, heading to Lexington, Kentucky on Sunday for a matchup with the #1 team in the country, the Kentucky Wildcats.  The game will air live on ESPNU at 12:00 pm.

(Courtesy of Buffalo Athletics)

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    MAC Football 

    UPCOMING GAMES
    All times Eastern

    ​

    MAC FOOTBALL STANDINGS
    -- Final - 2022 -- 
    MAC EAST
    OHIO 7-1
    BUFFALO 5-3
    BOWLING GREEN 5-3

    MIAMI 4-4
    KENT STATE 4-4
    AKRON 1-7

    MAC WEST
    TOLEDO 5-3

    EASTERN MICHIGAN 5-3
    WESTERN MICHIGAN 4-4
    ​BALL STATE 3-5
    CENTRAL MICHIGAN 3-5

    NORTHERN ILLINOIS 2-6

    MAC Basketball 
    MAC BASKETBALL STANDINGS
    (Through 3-3-23)

    Team - MAC -- Overall
    Toledo 16-2 (25-6)
    Kent State 15-3 (25-6)
    Akron 13-5 (21-10)
    Ball State 11-7 (20-11)
    Ohio 10-8 (18-13)
    Buffalo 9-9 (15-16)
    Northern Illinois 9-9 (13-18)
    Miami 6-12 (12-19)
    Bowling Green 5-13 (11-20)
    Central Michigan 5-13 (10-21)
    Eastern Michigan 5-13 (8-23)
    Western Michigan 4-14 (8-23)

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Basketball
    Football
    Other

    Archives

    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

Proudly powered by Weebly