Bulls Hold Off Canisius for Second Straight Win

John Boyer’s late three lifts UB to a 69-64 victory

John Boyer

BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo men’s basketball team held off a feisty Canisius squad, 69-64, at the Koessler Center on Tuesday night. It was the Bulls' second straight road win improving them to 2-0 on the season.

Early on it looked like the Bulls were going to cruise to the victory as they held a 41-24 halftime advantage and a 19-point lead with under nine minutes left in the game. However, the Griffs stormed back with a 17-0 scoring run to cut the lead to 60-58 with 4:02 remaining. Canisius pulled ahead, 64-63, with 2:29 left in the game.

After a Max Boudreau free throw knotted the contest at 64, John Boyer stepped up and hit the biggest shot of his career. The reserve point guard nailed a three-pointer from the corner to put the Bulls ahead, 67-64, with 34 seconds left.

Boyer finished the night with nine points and a career-best six rebounds in 22 minutes.

For the second straight game, Buffalo (2-0) was paced by Rodney Pierce. The junior guard scored a career-high 26 points and pulled down five rebounds.

Greg Gamble had 10 points, five rebounds and six assists and Calvin Betts added 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds.

“It was good to see that we had enough to keep fighting and see what was available, take what was available and execute down the stretch,” head coach Reggie Witherspoon said.”

The win was the Bulls’ fifth straight over Canisius. UB has now won consecutive road games for the first time since the 2005-06 season.

Buffalo will play the third of three straight road games on Saturday night at Evansville.