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Bulls Fall to Central Michigan in MAC Tourney, 80-74

Andy Robinson

Central Michigan came out of the gates firing, especially Giordan Watson. The Chippewas’ point guard proved why he is the league’s leading scorer as he scored 23 of his career-high 34 points in the first half to help the Chippewas build a 21-point first half lead. As a team, Central Michigan hit eight three-pointers in the first half and held a 40-23 lead at the break.

The Chippewas opened the second half by draining three straight three-pointers to build their lead to 26 points. Constant defensive pressure by Central Michigan kept the Bulls on their heels and unable to get into a rhythm offensively for much of the game. A lay-up by Watson at the 13:46 mark gave Central Michigan a 57-27 lead - its biggest of the night.

A Watson free throw put Central ahead, 71-46, with 5:51 left. However, the Bulls didn’t give up and over the next four and a half minutes mounted a furious 21-3 scoring run. A steal by Andy Robinson (Schenectady, NY/Schenectady) followed by a Byron Mulkey (Wheatfield, NY/Niagara-Wheatfield) three-pointer pulled the Bulls to within seven with 1:18 remaining. Robinson scored 11 points during the run. The Bulls shot a sizzling 62.5 percent in the second half to climb back into the game. But it wasn’t enough as the Chippewas held on for the victory.

For the third time in the past four games, Robinson established a new career high in scoring. This time the sophomore guard dropped 27 points to lead all Buffalo scorers. He scored 20 of his points in the second half.

Mulkey was the only other UB player to reach double-figures as the freshman walk-on continued his impressive late-season run with 19 points.

For only the second time this season, a MAC opponent outrebounded the Bulls as the Chippewas held a 31-29 rebounding edge. Central Michigan finished the game by shooting 12-for-22 from beyond the arc.

Calvin Betts (Rochester, NY/Rush-Henrietta) was another second-half spark for the Bulls as he recorded seven points and five rebounds in only nine minutes in the second stanza.

“I thought Central played a great game,” head coach Reggie Witherspoon said. “Watson did a terrific job controlling the game. He shot the lights out in the first half and really made tremendous decisions. We started late and couldn’t get out of it.”

Buffalo finished the season 12-19.