With the win, UB is now 9-6 on the year and 7-4 in the MAC. Western Michigan, which had won two straight for the first time this season, falls to 3-8 MAC, 4-12 overall.
The Bulls put on . . .
Offensively, the Bulls raced out to a 17-6 lead over the first eight minutes of action, capped off on a three-point play from senior David Nickelberry. From the 10:24 point on in the first half, the Bulls never led by less than double figures.
A fast break layup from senior Jayvon Graves pulled the Bulls ahead 29-10 with 6:38 left and UB would take a 41-21 lead into the break, its largest lead of the first half.
The Broncos cut Buffalo's lead to 16 early, but a 9-3 run for UB pulled the Bulls back ahead at 52-30 with 13:46 left. UB was up 58-35 when the Bulls went on a 9-0 run, starting on a three from redshirt junior Tra'von Fagan, as Buffalo took a 67-35 lead.
A bucket from Nickelberry with 6:32 left gave the Bulls their largest lead of the season at 76-38 and Buffalo led by at least 30 for the rest of the night.
"Good start by our guys and good energy and I am really proud of them because with the week we had we weren't really sure who or when we were going to play," said UB head coach Jim Whitesell.
The Bulls had five players in double figures led by 16 points from Graves, while adding four rebounds and four assists. Mballa had another double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds, adding three assists and two steals.
Nickelberry finished with a career high 14 points as he also had five rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and a steal. Fagan added 11 points and seven boards, while Jeenathan Williams had 10 points.
As a team the Bulls outrebounded Western Michigan, 49-32, including 16 offensive boards, which the Bulls turned into 22 second chance points.
B. Artis White tallied 18 points to lead WMU, but he was the only Bronco to reach double figures. Greg Lee registered nine points with nine rebounds.