Bulls Shock Bobcats With Dramatic Comeback

Pierce scores 27, hits game-winner in final minute, for first-ever win at Ohio

Rodney Pierce

ATHENS, OH – The University at Buffalo men's basketball team remained in first place in the Mid-American Conference East Division with a dramatic 68-66 win at Ohio, overcoming a 10-point deficit in the game's final minutes.

The game, which had technical difficulties on television, will be replayed at 1 pm tomorrow on ESPNU.

The Bulls, who had never won at the Convocation Center in 10 previous trips, looked to be in big trouble when the Bobcats took a 65-55 lead, the biggest by either team in the contest, with just 3:35 left in the contest. However, the Bulls – on a four-game losing streak entering the game – summoned up the courage to persevere, holding Ohio to one point the rest of the game and riding the red-hot shooting of junior guard Rodney Pierce who scored eight of UB's last 12 points en route to 27 for the contest. The Bulls improved to 18-9 overall and 10-4 in MAC play, tied with Bowling Green for the top spot with two games left in the regular season.

Trailing, 65-55, Pierce hit a three-pointer before Ohio's Jerome Tillman hit one-of-two free throws to make it 66-58 with 3:03 remaining. It would be Ohio's last points of the game.

Calvin Betts, who had 12 points and five rebounds, then hit a pair of free throws to make it 66-60 with 2:43 left. After a Pierce layup cut the lead to 66-62 with 2:25 remaining, Buffalo forced an Ohio turnover. Betts then scored on a layup off a pretty backdoor assist from senior Greg Gamble to cut the lead to 66-64 with 1:21 left.

After a missed jumper by Ohio, partially blocked by Betts, Pierce buried a clutch three-pointer with :27 left to give UB its first lead since 7:30 remained in the game. The Bulls then forced a turnover on Ohio's last possession, on a steal by Betts, who hit one free throw for the winning margin. Tillman's half-court heave glanced off the backboard.

It marked a season sweep for the Bulls over Ohio, as the Bulls also overcame a late deficit to beat the Bobcats in Buffalo earlier this year.

“We weren't trying to get down,” joked Buffalo head coach Reggie Witherspoon afterwards. “Ohio is a good team, but we found some resolve, our guys stayed locked in and didn't get down even when things looked bleak. It's a huge win for our guys.”

Said Pierce of his game-winning shot, “I wanted to drive it at first, but I saw someone in the space I wanted to drive in. I had confidence in my shot and Tillman gave me a little space so I took it.”

Gamble, who had six points, eight rebounds and four assists, said the Bulls never accepted they would lose the game. “Going into the last media timeout down 10 points, guys were still positive and still determined in the huddle. I think we wanted the ’W’ more than they did today. This feels great after coming in here three years and walking out disappointed.”

Pierce hit 5-of-9 three pointers and 8-of-9 free throws en route to 27 points, just one off his career-high. Senior Andy Robinson added nine points and a game-high five steals for Buffalo.

Calvin Betts

The Bulls led for a good portion of both halves and dominated Ohio on the glass. Buffalo had a 35-21 edge on the boards as 10 different Bulls registered a rebound. Leading 11-9 early in the game, Buffalo went on a 10-5 run – keyed by a pair of buckets by freshman Mitchell Watt to take its largest lead of the game at 21-14 with 6:15 left in the first half. However, an 8-0 run by the Bobcats put Ohio back on top and the lead see-sawed until Ohio went to halftime with a 28-27 lead.

Ohio extended its lead to five points –35-30 – early in the second half, before Buffalo rallied. After the game's seventh tie at 41-41, Gamble would hit a pair of jumpers, sandwiched around a Pierce three-pointer, as Buffalo took a 49-44 lead, their biggest of the second half. Ohio would then embark on a 16-4 run to grab a 60-53 lead with 4:36 to go on a three-pointer by Steve Coleman. It looked as though Ohio was en route to its 11th straight win over the Bulls in the Convo, before UB's defense, and will, asserted itself down the stretch.

Buffalo will now finish the road portion of its schedule with a game at Kent State on Thursday, before returning home for Senior Day versus Miami (OH) on Sunday.