Buffalo Win Streak Snapped at Ball State

Bulls drop close affair with Cardinals, 53-51

Max Boudreau

MUNCIE, IN - The University at Buffalo men’s basketball team had its nine-game winning streak snapped at Ball State on Sunday afternoon. The 53-51 loss was the Bulls’ first loss since January 10.

It was a back-and-forth affair for the entire game with neither team taking more than a six-point lead. It was a game that saw 15 ties and 15 lead changes.

Vadim Fedotov hit a layup to tie the game at 51 with 1:31 remaining. Maurice Hubbard made a layup to give the Cardinals a 53-51 lead with 1:09 left.

The Bulls had their chances in the end. Greg Gamble missed the front end of a one-and-one that could have tied the game. After UB’s defense forced Ball State into a missed jumper at the other end, the Bulls regained possession of the ball with 37 seconds left.

Rodney Pierce attempted to win the game with 10 seconds left, but his three-pointer was off the mark. Calvin Betts snuck in for the offensive rebound, but his follow tip danced around the rim before falling off.

An assertive Max Boudreau came off the bench to lead the Bulls with 13 points, on 5-of-6 shooting, in only 11 minutes. He was part of a bench that scored 39 of the Bulls’ 51 points. Fedotov added eight points and Sean Smiley chipped in with seven. Jawaan Alstonhad six points and a team-best five rebounds.

The Bulls were uncharacteristically outworked on the glass. Ball State was the first team in the last eight games to outrebound UB – with a 36-33 edge. The Cardinals had 11 offensive rebounds and scored 14 second chance points.

“For [Ball State] to get 11 offensive rebounds in unacceptable,” head coach Reggie Witherspoon said. “We got challenged on the glass. We got hit and we didn’t hit back.”

The Bulls will head back home to face Bowling Green on Wednesday night at Alumni Arena.