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Hot-Shooting Bulls Down Youngstown State, 95-82

Andy Robinson

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo men's basketball team scored a 95-82 win over Youngstown State in their O'Reilly ESPNU BracketBuster matchup at Alumni Arena on Saturday afternoon. The Bulls got key performances from a number of players, including Andy Robinson (Schenectady, NY/Schenectady) who scored team-high 26 points.

Buffalo (9-17) was in control for much of the game and jumped out to a 7-0 lead to set the tone. Early on, the Bulls were sparked by Brian Addison (Queens, NY/Andrew Jackson HS) who had four points, two rebounds, an assist and a steal in the game's first four minutes. In only 17 minutes, the junior forward tallied eight points, nine rebounds, an assist, two blocked shots and a pair of steals - all career highs.

The Penguins fought back and took their first lead of the game at 18-16 with 13:37 left in the first half. The lead would change hands a number of times before the Bulls settled on a 41-39 lead at the break.

The Bulls opened the second half on a 6-1 scoring run to extend its lead to seven points. After a Youngstown State three-pointer cut the lead to two with 16:43 left, the Bulls scored 10 unanswered points, capped by a Robinson layup to take a 59-47 lead and control of the game. The Penguins would get no closer than seven points the rest of the way.

Robinson scored 19 of his 26 points in the second half to lead the UB charge. Byron Mulkey (Wheatfield, NY/Niagara Wheatfield) also had a big second half, scoring 15 of his season-high 18 points in the second stanza. As a team, the Bulls shot 53 percent from the field in the second half.

Brian Addison

Calvin Betts (Rochester, NY/Rush-Henrietta) scored in double-figures for the sixth straight game with 16 points and added a career-high three steals. Like Addison, fellow big man Jawaan Alston (Uniontown, PA/Albert Gallatin) had the best all-around game of his young career with a career-best eight points to go along with five rebounds and three assists in only 17 minutes.

Buffalo outrebounded Youngstown State, 42-34. Max Boudreau (Montreal, Quebec/Champlain-St. Lambert) pulled down seven rebounds to go along with six points.

The Bulls were impressive from the free throw line, making 28 of their 31 attempts on the afternoon. Mulkey was a perfect 8-for-8.

Youngstown State (9-19) was led by Byron Davis who scored 29 points and John Barber who added 22.

"It was good to see us attack our opponent tonight and do it from the beginning," head coach Reggie Witherspoon said. "We got off to a 7-0 start and I think that helped us keep our turnovers down. We were able to rebound the ball well and have enough poise to do both of those things and shoot free throws well."

The win gave the Bulls a perfect home record against non-conference opponents for the third time in the last four years.

Buffalo will next play at Akron next Saturday night at 7:00 pm.