• Blog
  • About Us
  • Links
  MAC Reporter Online

First half ‘D’ helps Bulls down NIU

1/15/2015

 
Picture
BUFFALO, NY – The Buffalo Bulls placed five in double figures as the Bulls defeated Northern Illinois 82-63 Wednesday night at Alumni Arena.  The win improves UB to 11-4 on the year and 2-1 in MAC play. NIU falls to 7-7 (1-2 MAC).

After allowing over 70 points in three straight games, the Bulls began Wednesday’s game strong defensively, allowing just 21 points in the first half.  However, UB struggled to score early on and trailed midway through the first period, 13-12, before the offense hit another gear.  UB went on a 17-2 run, which was ignited by three straight three pointers from junior Jarryn Skeete, putting the Bulls ahead 29-15.

The Huskies pulled back within 12 with just under four minutes left in the opening half, but the Bulls ended the stanza on an 11-2 run, capped off with a put-back layup from junior Justin Moss as the first half came to a close.  UB took a 42-21 lead into the break.

(CLICK READ MORE TO CONTINUE . . . )

The second half saw both teams eclipse the 40-point mark as NIU got as close as 15, but the Bulls would not allow their lead to evaporate as they went on a 9-0 run to take a 67-43 lead.  UB used its defense and its ability to run the floor to create its offense, scoring a season-high 24 fast break points. Most of those came from junior Rodell Wigginton and freshman Lamonte Bearden.

UB continued to run the floor as a fast break dunk from sophomore Shannon Evans gave the Bulls their largest lead of the game at 77-50 with 4:53 remaining.  The Huskies pulled within 16 late in the game, but a three-point play gave the Bulls the 82-63 win.

"I am excited about the energy we had on defense in the first half, and we had great balance with a lot of guys contributing and playing well," said head coach Bobby Hurley, who picked up his 30th career win tonight.  "I thought Jarryn provided a great spark to get our offense going because we weren't playing great offense over the first seven minutes, and he got that going."

Moss led the Bulls with 18 points while adding two assists, two blocks and three steals.  Skeete finished with 14 points, while Evans had 13 points, four assists and four steals.  Bearden added 11 points and six assists.

Wigginton came off the bench after starting the last five games and continued to give great minutes. He finished with 12 points, six rebounds and three steals in 24 minutes.  Senior Xavier Ford added six points and eight rebounds off the bench, while fellow senior Will Regan had four points and three blocked shots.

UB got also got solid minutes off the bench from junior Raheem Johnson, who had four points and four rebounds in 18 minutes of action.

The Bulls finished the night with a season-low six turnovers, while forcing NIU into 16 turnovers, 13 of those coming from UB steals.  The 13 steals by the Bulls were a season-best, as were the nine blocked shots.

The Huskies were led by 21 points from Anthony Johnson and 16 points from Aaric Armstead.

Buffalo will remain home on Saturday afternoon as it faces Miami (OH) for the second time this season.  The game will be part of a doubleheader with the UB women. Northern Illinois is at Eastern Michigan Saturday (Noon, ET).

(Courtesy of  UB Athletics)


Comments are closed.
    Picture

    MAC Football 

    MAC FOOTBALL 
    2024
    REGULAR SEASON
    FINAL STANDINGS
    CLICK HERE

    Picture
    MAC Basketball 
    MAC BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

    MAC BASKETBALL
    STATISTICS

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Basketball
    Football
    Other

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    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