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UB sustained a late comeback by the Canisius Golden Griffins with some late game defense to hold on for a 49-48 win in the Bulls home opener.

The Bulls led by eight, 49-41, with just under four minutes remaining before Canisius scored the last seven points of the game. UB missed two jumpers that would have increased the lead to ten points before Jamie Cammaert hit a three- pointer to make it a five point UB lead with two minutes remaining. Another basket by Cammaert, a layup on an assist from Kevin Worley, made it a three- point game, 49-46, with 1:33 left.

Another missed jumper by UB gave the Golden Griffins a chance to cut into the lead and they did just that. Dale Sawyers broke free on an inbound play to hit a layup to make it a 49-48 game, but missed the insuing free throw that would have tied the game with 0:37 remaining. Canisius immediately fouled and freshman Alexei Vasiliev (St. Pertersburg, Russian/Russian Junior National)missed the front end of a one-and-one giving the Griffins one last shot. Some great UB defense force Canisius to take a wild three-pointer that missed in the closing seconds to hang on for the one-point victory, 49-48.

The Bulls led by four at the half, 27-23, but Canisius came back to take a 31-30 lead in the first four minutes of the second half. A three-pointer by Nikolai Alexeev (Minsk, Belarus/Belarus Sports Academy) tied the game at 33-33 with 14 minutes remaining and another three poitner by Koran Godwin (NJ/Abraham Clark) broke the tie with 12:33 left. Canisius came back to take the lead again, but UB fought back. Maliso Libomi (Malikoff, France/Academie De Creteil) converted a layup on an assist from Louis Campbell (Rahway, NJ/Rahway) to put the Bulls ahead 43-41 with six minutes remaining and UB would not relinquish the lead the rest of the game.

UB (2-2) was led by Louis Campbell with a career-high 18 points and Nikolai Alexeev, who came off the bench to score 14 points and a game-high eight rebounds. Alexei Vasiliev also grabbed eight rebounds as the Bulls outrebounded their opponent for the first time this season. Ryan Peterson (Clark, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) dished out five assists in the win as well. Canisius was led by Kevin Worley with 14 points and Jamie Cammaert with 12.

The Bulls won their sixth-straight home opener under head coach Tim Cohane and will have a week off before their next action. UB will next play at Manhattan next Tuesday, Dec. 1, at 7:30p.m.