MEN'S BASKETBALL

Roster  |  Coaches  |  Schedule / Results  |  News

Shorthanded Bulls Extinguish the Liberty Flames, 72-66

Greg Gamble

Idbihi, who was a game-time scratch with an elbow injury, was out of the starting lineup for the first time since December 3, 2003 - a span of 102 games. Vadim Fedotov (Munich, Germany/Schloss Hagerhof) started in Idbihi's place and scored five points and pulled down a career-best 10 rebounds.

The night, however, belonged to Greg Gamble (Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara Falls). The sophomore stepped up and filled the rebounding void by grabbing a career-high 15 rebounds and tied a career best with 15 points. It was the sophomore's second double-double of the season.

Buffalo (7-4) dominated the glass, outrebounding Liberty, 52-31. The Bulls had 24 offensive boards and scored 21 second-chance points.

"I think our collective effort made up for (Idbihi's) rebounding presence," head coach Reggie Witherspoon said. "We needed everyone tonight and I'm glad they were able to contribute."

The Bulls jumped out to a 12-6 lead, four minutes in the contest, but then went ice cold. Buffalo only scored four points over the next eight minutes. However, solid defense by UB kept Liberty from taking advantage as the Flames held only an 18-16 lead with 8:18 left in the half. Liberty led, 30-27, at the break.

Like the first half, the Bulls opened the second stanza on a 12-6 scoring run to regain a two-point lead with 16:45 left. Buffalo extended its lead to 48-42 on a lay-up by Gamble with 10:02 left on the clock. The Flames would battle back to tie the contest at 54 with 6:11 remaining. However, that is when Eric Moore (Dover, NJ/St. Benedict's Prep) took over for the Bulls.

Eric Moore

Following an Andy Robinson (Schenectady, NY/Schenectady) lay-up to break the tie, Moore scored eight-straight points, including a pair of three-pointers, to give the Bulls their biggest lead of the night, 64-56, with 2:16 left.

Moore finished with a game-high 19 points - including four three-pointers. Parnell Smith (Indianapolis, IN/Pike) had a solid all-around game with 13 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals. Robinson also reached double-figures with 11 points and a tied a career high with six rebounds.

Monday's game was the first of three home games on the week for the Bulls. Buffalo will next host Delaware State on Thursday night at 7:00 pm.