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Jason Bird

YPSILANTI, MI ­ Buffalo came up short against Eastern Michigan, 88-78, on Monday night, in a foul-riddled game that saw 64 fouls called. The 42 fouls whistled on the Bulls, kept UB players in constant foul trouble and prevented the Bulls from getting into any kind of offensive rhythm.

The game was tight for much of the first half with each team taking brief leads. With the game tied, 26-26, Eastern Michigan closed out the first half on a 14-5 scoring run to take a 40-31 halftime lead.

The storyline of this game could be summed up in the first 1:43 of the second half, as seven team fouls were called on the Bulls, putting the Eagles in the bonus situation for most of the second half. Thus, it was tough for UB to climb back into the contest because Eastern Michigan was constantly being awarded free throws. However, the Bulls didn't give up and a Roderick Middleton (University Park, IL/Marian Catholic) layup cut the Eastern lead to 57-56 with 11:46 remaining. However, the Eagles went on a 12-5 run to reestablish a 10-point lead. UB got as close as six points on an Adam Johnson (Alto Loma, CA/Etiwanda) layup, but would get no closer as the Eagles pulled away for the 10-point victory.

It was a productive homecoming for Jason Bird (Ypsilanti, MI/Ypsilanti) as the Ypsilanti, MI native led the Bulls with 15 points and a career-high nine rebounds. Davis Lawrence (Brooklyn, NY/New Utrecht) scored all 11 of his points in the second half. Middleton and B.J. Walker (Cincinnati, OH/Mt. Healthy) each added 10 points. However, just as four players scored in double figures for the Bulls, four players also fouled out for UB.

Buffalo (4-21, 1-15) took a season-high 82 shots, but unfortunately only converted on 29 (35.4 percent). UB especially struggled from the three-point line as they shot 3-for-26 from beyond the arc. Buffalo did a great job rebounding the basketball, grabbing a season-high 54 rebounds, including 25 offensive boards.

Eastern Michigan (14-12, 8-9) was led by Michael Ross who scored 21 points, including 11-for-13 from the free throw line. Steve Pettyjohn recorded a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. The Eagles took 33 less shots than Buffalo, but went to the free throw line a school-record 56 times. They also set a school record for free throws made in a game with 34.

Buffalo's 42 fouls broke the previous school record of 36 set during the 1973-74 season.

"When the other team shoots 56 free throws, you don't have much of a margin of error," head coach Reggie Witherspoon said.