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Yassin Idbihi

BUFFALO, NY - The weather outside was frightful, but the scene in Alumni Arena was delightful as the University at Buffalo men's basketball team beat Robert Morris, 79-66, to earn its fifth-straight victory. It is the Bulls' longest winning streak since they won five in a row during the 1996-97 season.

Buffalo (5-3) had four players score in double-figures led by Yassin Idbihi (Tangier, Morocco/Schloss Hagerhof) who tallied his second double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Turner Battle (Kernersville, NC/East Forsyth) had 14 points and five assists. Mario Jordan (Cleveland, OH/Benedictine) and Calvin Cage (Capital Heights, MD/Bladensburg) chipped in with 13 and 11 points, respectively.

It was a tightly played first half that saw the Bulls lead 18-17 with 6:18 remaining. UB was able to extend its lead to 27-19 with 2:52 remaining. However, the Colonials rattled off six-straight points to cut the lead to two points. Battle hit a jumper, with two seconds remaining in the half, to give the Bulls a 29-25 lead at the break.

Battle hit back-to-back jumpers in the opening minute of the second half to put the Bulls up 33-25, allowing them to take control of the contest. An offensive rebound and put back by Idbihi extended the UB lead to 44-32 at the 15:14 mark. Robert Morris fought back and a Chaz McCrommon jumper cut the UB lead to six points with 5:14 remaining in the game. However, that would be as close as the Colonials would get as the Bulls mounted a 9-1 scoring run to go up by 14 points and put away the game.

Calvin Cage

Cage proved to be the spark the Bulls needed as the sophomore guard came off the bench and scored all 11 of his points in the second stanza. Buffalo went 8-for-8 from the free throw line, in the final two minutes, to help seal the victory.

Robert Morris (2-4) was led by McCrommon who scored a game-high 22 points. Maurice Carter added 16 points for the Colonials.

The Bulls dominated the glass, outrebounding Robert Morris, 35-24. They also outscored the Colonials, 18-6, in second chance points.

"They made us earn everything that we got tonight," head coach Reggie Witherspoon said referring to Robert Morris' physical play. "We needed a game like that and they were here to give it to us."

The Bulls will wrap-up non-conference play on Dec. 22 when they travel to Teaneck, NJ to face Fairleigh Dickinson.