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Jason Bird

BUFFALO, NY ­ Northern Illinois, undefeated on the road in Mid-American Conference play and arguably the hottest team in the conference, came in and handed Buffalo a 70-61 loss at Alumni Arena on Thursday night. The Bulls were cool from the perimeter as they shot only 37.9 percent from the floor. UB struggled from the three-point line, shooting only 3-of-20 from beyond the arc. However a tenacious defensive effort by the Bulls forced 17 Northern Illinois turnovers and kept UB in the contest until late in the game.

The Bulls were able to build a 14-11 lead at the 13:30 mark of the first half, before hitting a dry spell. UB failed to score a point for nearly five minutes and the Huskies capitalized by going on a 7-0 run and taking a four-point lead. Northern Illinois held a 31-26 halftime advantage.

The Bulls battled back in the second half and a Roderick Middleton (University Park, IL/Marian Catholic) lay up tied the contest, 46-46, with 10:05 remaining. However, the tide turned at the 7:13 mark of the second half. Following two free throws by Mario Jordan (Cleveland, OH/Benedictine) to tie the game at 50 apiece, Marcus Smallwood scored on the ensuing Huskie possession and drew the foul. He missed the free throw, but Northern Illinois was able to gather the rebound and Todd Peterson drained a three-pointer to give the Huskies a five-point lead. It was a lead that Northern Illinois would never relinquish.

Although they lost the game, the Bulls did a nice job of taking care of the basketball. UB committed a season-low six turnovers. But it was their inability to hit a jump shot that inevitably did in the Bulls. Conversely, Northern Illinois shot the ball well from the floor, shooting 53.7 percent (22-41) from the field and 58.8 percent (10-17) from beyond the arc.

"Where this one really bothers me is what they did to us on the glass." Head Coach Reggie Witherspoon said referring to the Huskies 11-rebound advantage and 12 second chance points. "That hasn't been happening."

Buffalo (3-15, 0-9) was led by Turner Battle (Kernersville, NC/East Forsyth) and Jason Bird (Ypsilanti, MI/Ypsilanti) who each scored 13 points. Battle added five assists, four steals and, for the second consecutive game, did not turn the ball over. B.J. Walker (Cincinnati, OH/Mount Healthy) scored 11 points and added a team-high six rebounds.

Northern Illinois (11-9, 7-3) finished with four players scoring in double-figures, led by P.J. Smith with 15 points. Smallwood tallied 14 points and 13 rebounds.