Bulls Storm Back to Down Miami (OH) and Earn Share of MAC Title

Buffalo earns third seed and first round bye in upcoming MAC Tournament

Andy Robinson

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo men's basketball team erased a 13-point halftime deficit to defeat Miami (OH), 70-67, in overtime at Alumni Arena on Sunday afternoon. With the win, the Bulls earned a share of the Mid-American Conference regular season title and will be the third seed in next week's MAC Tournament. The Bulls will have a first round bye and play the winner of the Kent State/Northern Illinois game at 2:30 pm on Thursday at Cleveland's Quicken Loans Arena.

After trailing by 13 at the half, a determined UB squad rallied back and a steal and breakaway dunk by Andy Robinson cut the RedHawks advantage to two points with 9:51 left. After Miami regained a 53-49 lead, the Bulls scored eight unanswered points to take a 57-53 lead with 6:07 remaining.

The RedHawks answered with a 6-0 run of their own to take 59-57 lead with 3:19 left. The score didn't change until Greg Gamble drew a foul with 27 seconds left. He calmly drained both free throws to knot the contest at 59. The Bulls locked down on defense and kept the RedHawks from getting off a shot at the end of regulation.

The teams traded baskets throughout the overtime before Andy Robinson was fouled on a three-point attempt. He connected on all three free throws to give the Bulls a 66-63 with 48 seconds left. After Miami made one of two free throws at the other end to cut the lead to two, the RedHawks fouled Rodney Pierce with 21 seconds left. The junior guard missed the front end of a one and one, but Mitchell Watt grabbed the offensive rebound and was fouled. The freshman forward made both free throws to give the Bulls a 68-64 lead with 18 seconds left.

After Michael Bramos drained a three-pointer to cut the lead to 68-67 with 12 seconds left, Buffalo turned the ball over, giving the RedHawks a chance to win the game. But once again the Bulls clamped down on defense, forcing the RedHawks to miss a jump shot. Andy Robinson hit two free throws to seal the win for the Bulls.

Buffalo was led by Robinson and Gamble, a pair of seniors playing in their final home game. Robinson led UB with 17 points and had two steals. Gamble had workmanlike 13 points, eight rebounds and four assists and played all 45 minutes.

Greg Gamble

Although it was senior day, it was the play of the freshman Watt that opened eyes. He scored a career-high 14 points and added five rebounds and three assists. Calvin Betts added 13 points and tied Gamble for high rebounding honors with eight.

"[Miami] put it to us in the first half," head coach Reggie Witherspoon said of a RedHawks team that led 40-27 at the break. "I thought our determination was the difference. It enabled us to get back in the game and I thought the crowd was terrific."

Buffalo finished the regular season 19-10 overall and an 11-5 mark in MAC play. The Bulls are the regular season co-champions of the MAC for the first time since joining the conference in 1998. They have earned their first ever first round bye and the third seed is their highest since joining the league.