KENT, OH – The Buffalo Bulls ended Tuesday night's game on a 23-5 run as the Bulls picked up their seventh straight victory over Kent State, 82-69. The win was also Buffalo's fourth straight at the M.A.C Center, the first MAC team to do that since Ohio (1991-95). With the victory, UB improves to 8-10 overall and 2-3 in league play. Kent State fell to 9-9 on the season and 1-4 in MAC play after dropping its fourth straight decision.
The game was a series of runs as . . .
The game was a series of runs as . . .
. . . the two teams each held the lead for nearly half of the night. Buffalo opened the evening by scoring the first 10 points of the game, but the Golden Flashes responded by going on a 23-6 run to take a 23-16 lead. A 10-2 run by the Bulls then put them back up before a fast-break layup by redshirt sophomore Dontay Caruthers pulled the Bulls back ahead 36-32 with 3:33 left. UB went on to take a 40-37 lead into the break.
Kent State opened the second half on a 12-2 run to grab a 49-42 advantage. The Flashes were up 51-44 when UB rattled off eight straight points as a jumper from sophomore Nick Perkins put the Bulls back ahead.
Kent State opened the second half on a 12-2 run to grab a 49-42 advantage. The Flashes were up 51-44 when UB rattled off eight straight points as a jumper from sophomore Nick Perkins put the Bulls back ahead.
Kent State went back up by five, 64-59, with 8:44 left, but the UB defense buckled down, allowing just five points the rest of the night. Buffalo's decisive run began with a 12-0 spurt over four minutes, fueled by the play of sophomore Nikola Rackicevic, who had half of UB's points during the rally.
The Golden Flashes cut it back to 71-67, but then UB went on a 9-1 run as a layup from Nick Perkins put the Bulls ahead 80-68 with just 2:20 left. Buffalo took its largest lead of the night with just 36 seconds left on a jumper by CJ Massinburg, giving the Bulls an 82-69 lead, which was the final margin of victory.
Massinburg led the Bulls with a season-high 22 points, adding team highs of nine rebounds and four assists. Perkins registered 17 points and six rebounds off the bench.
Rackicevic tied his career high with 14 points as he went 6-of-11 from the floor with three rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal. Caruthers had a career-high 11 points, while also finishing with a career-best five steals -- the most in a game by a UB player this season.
Blake Hamilton added nine points and six rebounds despite playing just 19 minutes due to foul trouble.
The Bulls shot just under 50 percent for the game, but were extremely efficient from inside the arc in the second half as they shot 17-of-23 from two-point range.
Jimmy Hall led the Golden Flashes with 24 points and 16 rebounds. The rest of the starting lineup combined for five points. Senior Deon Edwin (11) and junior Kevin Zabo (10) also reached double figures.
The Bulls will return home on Saturday afternoon when they host Western Michigan at Alumni Arena. Tipoff is at 2:30 pm and it will be part of a doubleheader with the UB women, who tip at Noon.
The flashes host Toledo Saturday (7 p.m. ET).
(Courtesy of UA Athletics)
The Golden Flashes cut it back to 71-67, but then UB went on a 9-1 run as a layup from Nick Perkins put the Bulls ahead 80-68 with just 2:20 left. Buffalo took its largest lead of the night with just 36 seconds left on a jumper by CJ Massinburg, giving the Bulls an 82-69 lead, which was the final margin of victory.
Massinburg led the Bulls with a season-high 22 points, adding team highs of nine rebounds and four assists. Perkins registered 17 points and six rebounds off the bench.
Rackicevic tied his career high with 14 points as he went 6-of-11 from the floor with three rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal. Caruthers had a career-high 11 points, while also finishing with a career-best five steals -- the most in a game by a UB player this season.
Blake Hamilton added nine points and six rebounds despite playing just 19 minutes due to foul trouble.
The Bulls shot just under 50 percent for the game, but were extremely efficient from inside the arc in the second half as they shot 17-of-23 from two-point range.
Jimmy Hall led the Golden Flashes with 24 points and 16 rebounds. The rest of the starting lineup combined for five points. Senior Deon Edwin (11) and junior Kevin Zabo (10) also reached double figures.
The Bulls will return home on Saturday afternoon when they host Western Michigan at Alumni Arena. Tipoff is at 2:30 pm and it will be part of a doubleheader with the UB women, who tip at Noon.
The flashes host Toledo Saturday (7 p.m. ET).
(Courtesy of UA Athletics)
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