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Bulls Fall to First Place Kent State, 76-66

Andy Robinson

Kent State (22-5, 11-2 MAC) won its fifth straight game by shooting 52 percent from the field and collecting 15 steals that led to 22 points off turnovers. The Golden Flashes led the game from wire-to-wire.

Kent State led by as many as 19 in the first half before settling for a 15-point advantage at the break.

The Bulls outscored the Golden Flashes, 17-11, to open the second half and an Andy Robinson (Schenectady, NY/Schenectady) jumper cut the Kent State lead to 52-43 with 12:57 remaining. However, Kent State scored eight unanswered points to quickly regain a 17-point advantage.

The Bulls made one last late run and, over a span of five minutes, whittled a 19-point Kent State lead down to eight. An acrobatic layup by Byron Mulkey (Wheatfield, NY/Niagara Wheatfield) capped the run with 2:40 remaining. However, UB would get no closer as it lost the Golden Flashes by 10.

Robinson led the Bulls with 17 points. Calvin Betts (Rochester, NY/Rush-Henrietta) notched his fourth double-double of the season with 11 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Max Boudreau (Montreal, Quebec/Champlain St. Lambert) had seven points and six rebounds and Greg Gamble (Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara Falls) added six points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Kent State was led Al Fisher who scored 20 points and added six assists. Haminn Quaintance added 14 points for the Golden Flashes.

Buffalo (8-17, 2-11) dominated the glass, outrebounding Kent State, 39-25. The Bulls pulled down 16 offensive rebounds, but could only convert them into 13 second-chance points.

"I think Kent State started the game off with a sense of urgency that we got hit in the mouth with," head coach Reggie Witherspoon said. "Our guys need to learn from that."

UB will remain at home and host Youngstown State on Saturday afternoon in the O'Reilly ESPNU BracketBusters. Tip is scheduled for 4:00 pm.