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BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo men's basketball team overcame a 17-point first-half deficit to defeat Akron, 79-60, in its Mid-American Conference opener on Saturday night. The victory marked the first time since Buffalo joined the MAC (1998) that it has started the conference portion of its schedule with a win.

The Bulls, having now won five of their last six games, improve to 5-2 on the season and are off to their best start since the 1997-98 season when they also began 5-2. The home-victory is also Buffalo's third straight to start the season and is UB's longest home unbeaten streak to start the season since the 1996-97 campaign when the Bulls ran off six straight wins at Alumni Arena.

Akron scored first and jumped out to an 8-0 lead 3:23 after the opening whistle. The Zips then built their lead up to 17 points (31-14) with 5:06 left in the first half and appeared to be running away with the game. However, the Bulls put the pressure on Akron and forced five turnovers, which quickly led to a 13-0 run in 1:31, pulling UB within four points. Akron recovered and scored two straight baskets to regain an eight-point lead but the Bulls closed the half on a 6-0 run, knocking down a pair of free throws with 1:47 left, hitting a jumper at the 1:23 mark and sinking a shot by freshman Turner Battle (Kernersville, NC/East Forsyth) with :05 left to pull within two points at the break.

Darcel Williams

The score remained close for the first three minutes of the second half and UB took its first lead of the game (42-41) at the 17:16 mark on a layup by senior Robert Brown (Detroit, MI/Oak Park). The Brown basket was the beginning of a 26-10 run over the next 4:22, giving the Bulls a 17-point lead. Back-to-back jumpers by Akron dropped the deficit to 13 points but that was the closest the Zips would get as Buffalo played tough defense in the final 6:48, allowing just two baskets and a free throw.

"It felt really good with the crowd we had here," said coach Reggie Witherspoon. "The crowd gave us great energy. The students were just fantastic. Our guys could feel it and it helps. Our crowd gave us a home court advantage tonight."

Four Bulls scored in double figures - senior Darcel Williams (Buffalo, NY/Traditional) had a team-high 22 points, senior Louis Campbell (Rahway, NJ/Rahway) scored 11 points, Battle added 11 points and Brown chipped in with 10 points. Williams also finished with a game-high 11 rebounds for his second straight double-double of the season.

Buffalo forced 21 turnovers in the game and outscored the Zips, 65-29, over the final 25:06.

Akron's Andy Hipsher led the Zips with a game-high 26 points, going 9-of-14 from the field and 6-of-8 from the free throw line.

For the second time this season, Alumni Arena was filled with more than 4,000 fans for a men's basketball game (4,119). The Bulls home opener with Canisius drew 4,309 fans.

The Bulls will take part in the eight-team Yahoo Sports Invitational hosted by Brigham Young-Hawaii on December 20-22 at the Cannon Activities Center. Buffalo and last year's NIT Champions, Tulsa, with tip-off the tournament, which also includes Valparaiso, New Mexico State, Navy, Montana and Columbia.