Buffalo Downs South Florida in Home Opener, 76-69

Rodney Pierce scores 20 points to pace UB

Rodney Pierce

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo men's basketball team downed South Florida in its home opener, 76-69, at Alumni Arena on Tuesday night. It marked the second time in the last three years that the Bulls defeated a Big East opponent at Alumni Arena - they defeated Rutgers on Dec. 10, 2005.

UB was led by Rodney Pierce (Buffalo, NY/Hutch-Tech) who scored a career-high 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting, including three three-pointers. He added seven rebounds. Sean Smiley (Erie, PA/McDowell) also notched a career high with 16 points and hit four treys.

Buffalo (2-1) controlled the game for much of the night as USF's largest lead was only four points. Dominique Jones hit one of USF's five first-half three-pointers to put South Florida ahead, 36-35, with 3:47 remaining in the half. However, UB closed the half on a 9-0 run, with five of the points coming courtesy of Andy Robinson (Schenectady, NY/Schenectady), to take a 44-36 lead at the break.

The Bulls never trailed in the second half. A three-pointer by Pierce put UB ahead, 55-46, with 15:38 left. USF battled back with an 11-2 scoring run, capped by a Solomon Bozeman three-pointer in which he was fouled. The ensuing free throw knotted the game at 57.

Following a Calvin Betts (Rochester, NY/Rush-Henrietta) jumper, Smiley came up with a steal, streaked down the floor and drained a three in transition to put Buffalo ahead, 62-57, and send the Alumni Arena crowd into a frenzy.

Sean Smiley

Byron Mulkey (Wheatfield, NY/Niagara-Wheatfield) came up with a steal and found Smiley for a break-away lay-up to give UB a nine-point advantage with 7:45 left. South Florida whittled the lead down to three and had the ball with 2:57 on the clock, but following a missed USF shot, Max Boudreau (Montreal, Quebec/Champlain St. Lambert) came down with one of his career-best eight rebounds and was fouled. His free throws put the Bulls up by five and USF would get no closer.

"We played with a level of assertiveness and aggressiveness that really helped us," head coach Reggie Witherspoon said. "It was a good team win and a good start for us."

Buffalo had 11 steals on the night and forced 20 South Florida turnovers. UB was able to convert those turnovers into 31 points.

South Florida was led by Jesus Verdejo who scored 18 points and Jones who added 17.

Buffalo is off until next Tuesday when it plays at Niagara.

A tape-delayed broadcast of Tuesday's win over South Florida can be seen on LCTV on Thursday at 7:00 pm, Friday at 7:00 am, Saturday at 1:00 am and 7:00 pm and Sunday at 4:00 pm.

11/13/2007