OXFORD, Oh -- After nearly burying host Miami with an 18-0 game-opening run, the Buffalo Bulls fought off several RedHawk rallies to post a 77-69 win Friday at Millett Hall.
The road victory guaranteed Buffalo (26-3, 14-2 MAC) a share of regular season Mid-American Conference title. Miami, fresh off a win at Bowling Green, fell to 15-14 overall.
"I thought we struggled on offense a little bit tonight," said Buffalo head coach Nate Oats. "Those first four minutes were some of the best basketball we've played all year, but credit Miami, they played us tough and turned us over a little bit. I also have to credit our guys though, for us to shoot as poorly as we did and find a way to win on the road says a lot about this group."
"I've never, ever been part of a game like that," Miami head coach Jack Owens said of the 18-0 opening deficit. "Once we settled in, we were able to get some things going. ... I just knew it would even out ... somewhere once we settled down."
When Miami closed in, however, the battle-tested Bulls came up with key plays -- on both ends of the court. Dante Caruthers turned a drive into an old-fashioned 3-point play at 1:12. The Bulls then added four more points while Miami failed to score in the last two minutes.
"They do a great job of playing the passing lanes, and they really get aggressive," Owens said. "Caruthers and (Davonte) Jordan are two of the better defensive guards in the league."
The RedHawks were just 4-of-20 outside the arc on the night, while Buffalo launched 34 treys, hitting 11 (32.4%).
C.J. Massinburg led the visitors with 20 points, followed by Jayvon Graves (13), Nick Perkins (13) and Jordan (12).
Brown and Nike Sibande paced Miami with 15 points apiece, Bam Bowman registered a double-double (13 points, 13 rebounds).