MEN'S BASKETBALL

Roster  |  Coaches  |  Schedule / Results  |  News

Bulls Set for Wednesday’s MAC Tournament Clash with Central Michigan

Byron Mulkey

The Bulls (12-18, 4-12 MAC) look to use their convincing 84-65 victory over Ohio on Senior Night as a springboard into the playoffs.

Buffalo turned up the heat on the Bobcats, shooting a season-best 52.5 percent from the floor and nearly 85 percent from the free throw line.

The Bulls dominated the glass once again, led fittingly by seniors Yassin Idbihi (Tangier, Morocco/Schloss Hagerhof) and Parnell Smith (Indianapolis, IN/Pike) who snared ten rebounds apiece, good for 20 between them - just as many as Ohio had as a team. Both seniors recorded double-doubles as Idbihi notched 18 points and Smith 13 in the win.

For the second time in three games, sophomore Andy Robinson (Schenectady, NY/Schenectady) dropped a career high, going for 25 on 8-of-12 shooting and a career-best five three-pointers to lead all UB scorers.

Byron Mulkey (Wheatfield, NY/Niagara Wheatfield) was excellent out front, dishing out 14 assists, the most in the MAC this year, to go along with seven points and seven rebounds.

Central Michigan (12-17, 7-9 MAC) is coming off a 77-57 loss at conference-leading Toledo. The Chippewas were led by Giordan Watson with 16 points. The Bulls will look to contain Watson, who is the league’s leading scorer in conference play at 19.8 points per game. Justin Blevins grabbed a team-best six rebounds in the loss.

Sefton Barrett is also a key to the Chippewa attack, as he scored a team-high 21 against UB in their last contest in January.

The Bulls are in search of their first-ever MAC Championship, and will focus first on Central Michigan and extending their season for at least one more game. In the teams’ first match-up, Central Michigan edged Buffalo, 59-56 at Alumni Arena. The Bulls not only seeking revenge, but also to advance into the quarterfinal round of the MAC Tournament for the fourth-straight year.

Tip-off is slated for 5 pm. The game can be heard locally on WWKB 1520 AM or online at www.buffalobulls.com.

Game preview written by Sean Smiley