Bulls Remain Red Hot With Win Over Western Michigan

Total team effort paces UB to fifth straight win

John Boyer

KALAMAZOO, MI - The University at Buffalo men’s basketball team extended its winning streak to five games on Tuesday night, defeating West Division-leading Western Michigan, 74-71, at University Arena. With the win, the Bulls improved to 13-5 overall and 5-1 in the MAC – continuing their best ever start in conference play.

It was a see-saw affair that had four ties and 13 lead changes. The Bulls were able to weather an early scoring barrage that saw the Broncos jump out to a 14-2 lead. UB battled back with the help of John Boyer who was making his second straight start. The junior walk-on scored eight of his nine points, including a pair of three-pointers, in the first half to help the Bulls gain a 36-34 edge at the half.

Western Michigan (7-12, 4-2 MAC) started the second stanza much like the first as it opened the half on a 9-0 scoring run to regain a seven-point advantage. The Broncos held a 48-41 lead with 11:43 remaining. However, the Bulls rattled off seven straight points, capped by a Rodney Pierce layup to tie the game at 50. Pierce nailed a three to give the Bulls a 53-52 edge with 8:40 left.

The lead would change hands seven times over the next several possessions before another three-pointer by Pierce put the Bulls ahead, 64-61, with 5:11 left. After David Kool made a layup to put the Broncos up one, Max Boudreau laid in an inbounds pass from Boyer to give the Bulls the lead for good with 2:41 remaining.

Pierce, who scored 16 of his game-high 21 points in the second half, converted a driving layup to put the Bulls ahead, 72-69, with 45 seconds left. On the Broncos’ ensuing possession, Andy Robinson came up with the defensive play of the game as he swatted away a layup attempt by Michael Redell that was tracked down by Greg Gamble to all but seal the win for the Bulls.

Greg Gamble

For the second straight game, the bench came up huge for UB. Boudreau scored 12 points and Sean Smiley added 11, including a trio of three-pointers. The Bulls matched a season high with 10 three-pointers in the game.

Kambi Laleye grabbed a season-high four rebounds in only five minutes of action.

Buffalo dished out a season-high 21 assists led by Gamble’s career-best eight dimes to go along with six points and a team-best six rebounds.

For the second straight game Buffalo had only eight turnovers, marking the third time in the last six games that UB has had a single-digit turnover total.

“It was a great game and both teams played well,” head coach Reggie Witherspoon said. “We did a great job of persevering. We took their shots and we didn’t get discouraged at all. It was wonderful to see our guys do that.”

Buffalo will return home for the first of three straight home games beginning Saturday afternoon against Toledo. The game will start at noon and will be televised nationally on ESPN2.