The Bulls struggled from . . .
Buffalo got out to a quick start as a 10-0 UB run midway through the opening half put the Bulls ahead 19-12, their largest lead of the game. A jumper from junior Jayvon Graves put UB ahead 27-21, but UConn would go on an 11-5 run to tie up the contest. The game remained tied at the break, 34-34.
The Huskies shot 54.8% from the floor in the second half. With the game tied at 38-38, UConn went on a 10-2 run to take an eight-point lead. UConn extended its lead to nine, but the Bulls had one final push in them. Trailing 63-55, a quick 7-2 run pulled the Bulls back within three. However, UConn's Brendan Adams answered with a three and the Huskies pulled away late.
"Their length and size did bother us a bit," said head coach Jim Whitesell. "We were hoping to move the ball better and get our three-ball game going, but they did a good job of negating our strengths."
Three Bulls finished in double figures led by 15 points each from senior Antwain Johnson and sophomore Josh Mballa. For Mballa it was a career high in scoring as he was 7-of-9 from the floor before fouling out.
Graves added 14 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Senior Davonta Jordan finished the night with eight points, five rebounds, and a team-high five assists. Redshirt freshman LaQuill Hardnett had his best game of his young career with four points and eight rebounds off the bench.