BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The last Mid-American Conference team to defeat Buffalo stayed with the Bulls for one half Saturday, but UB pulled away after intermission for an 88-64 win over Miami at Alumni Arena.
It was the Bulls’ 15th win in 16 outings and extended a school record home court winning streak to 19 games. Miami fell to 8-6 (0-3 MAC) after dropping its first MAC road tilt.
With MU slowing the pace, Buffalo -- ranked No. 19 in the latest AP poll and 3-0 in MAC play -- managed just 36 points in the first half. That left the Bulls four points ahead of Miami. Things were different in the second half, though, as UB erupted for 52 points while again surrendering 32.
Buffalo went to the line for 35 free throws and made 25. Miami, meanwhile, hit 10 of 15 opportunities.
The RedHawks also contributed to UB success with 18 turnovers leading to 27 Buffalo points. The Bulls registered just four turnovers that set up five Miami points.
Although total rebounds were nearly equal (UB 39, MU 38), the Bulls owned a 27-5 advantage in second chance points.
Jeremy Harris led Buffalo with 17 points. Montell McCrae followed with 13, while Nick Perkins (12) and C.J. Massinburg (10) also reached double figures.
Miami was led by Nike Sibande, who hit 7-of-12 from the field and 4-of-7 3-point tries. Darrien Ringo (10) was the only other starter with more than five points, as several battled foul trouble. Milos Jovic came off the bench for 10 points.
Sibande, who had a team-high 21 points in MU’s win over Buffalo last February in Oxford, was hot early again Saturday. He scored seven consecutive points as the RedHawks forged an 11-3 lead.
Harris led UB back, contributing eight points in a 16-3 Bulls run that left the hosts up 22-13. Buffalo had two “and-one” opportunities in the run and seven such opportunities on the day.
Jalen Adaway got Miami untracked at 11:03 with two of his four game points. The two teams then battled into the period’s final minutes.
Buffalo was struggling from the field and -- at times -- the foul line. In fact, UB connected on just one field goal in the period after a McRae “and-one” at 10:49. Six of nine free throws found their mark, however, to mitigate a Miami run.
The RedHawks did manage to catch Buffalo at 32-all when Jovic swished a three from the corner at 2:50. However, neither team scored a field goal and the Bulls added four free throws to give them their halftime edge.
Harris drilled a three to start second half scoring and UB added four free throws to open an 11-point lead. Miami answered with triples by Sibande and Ringo.
Massinburg hit one of two charity tosses before Mekhi Lairy scored on a layup for Miami to match the halftime margin of four points at 44-40.
There was 14:29 remaining, but the visitors would record just one more field goal until the 5:53 remained. Buffalo took advantage of the MU dry spell, putting the game away with a 27-5 run. Up by 26 at that point, the Bulls cruised in for a 24-point final margin to the delight of over 6,000 fans - ninth largest crowd in the current configuration of Alumni Arena..
"I wasn't happy with the way we started the game and I challenged our guys to go out there and perform for that great crowd, and we did that in the second half," said Buffalo head coach Nate Oats.
NEXT:
Buffalo will be at Western Michigan, while Miami travels to Toledo. Both games tip at 7 p.m.