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Bulls Drop Regular Season Finale at Miami, 74-65

Calvin Cage

It was defensive battle early on as both teams struggled to score in the first half. After a jumper by Roderick Middleton (University Park, IL/Marian Catholic) put the Bulls ahead, 17-14, UB went over five minutes without scoring and trailed, 26-17, late in the first stanza. Buffalo was behind, 30-22, at the half.

Miami (18-9, 14-4 MAC) led by 14 points with 16:04 remaining. But sparked by Parnell Smith (Indianapolis, IN/Pike), the Bulls mounted a 15-2 scoring run to cut the Miami lead to 44-43 with 9:38 remaining. Smith scored eight of his 12 points during the run.

Buffalo (18-12, 8-10 MAC) was unable to grasp a lead in the second half as the RedHawks had an answer for every Buffalo threat. Calvin Cage (Capitol Heights, MD/Bladensburg) hit a pair of free throws to cut the lead to 50-49 with 5:58 left. However, the Bulls would get no closer as Miami extended its lead to 12 points before settling for the nine-point victory.

Cage scored 22 points, including four three-pointers, to lead all scorers. Idbihi also reached double-digits with 10 points. Mario Jordan (Cleveland, OH/Benedictine) finished with eight points and a team-high nine rebounds - just missing his third straight double-double.

Miami had four players score in double-figures, led by Tim Pollitz who notched 20 points. Monty St. Clair had 10 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Miami outrebounded Buffalo, 34-28.

The Bulls recorded 10 steals, led by Middleton who had a game-high four.

“We weren't rebounding the ball at all in the first half,” head coach Reggie Witherspoon said. “We did a little bit better in the second half and gave ourselves a chance by going at them and being a little more aggressive around the basket. But we didn't do enough.”

Tip-off for Monday's playoff game at Alumni Arena is scheduled for 7:00 pm.