MEN'S BASKETBALL

Roster  |  Coaches  |  Schedule / Results  |  News

Late Rally Lifts Wyoming Past Buffalo

Greg Gamble

Buffalo (5-5) used its defensive prowess to build a 15-point lead with 12:12 left in the game. However, after a Calvin Betts (Rochester, NY/Rush-Henrietta) lay-up put the Bulls ahead, 53-39, with 11:43 remaining, the UB offense went stagnant. Over the next 7 ½ minutes Wyoming outscored the Bulls, 17-2, to take a 56-55 lead with 4:16 left.

Wyoming (5-4) held a 65-60 lead with 23 seconds remaining. Sean Smiley (Erie, PA/McDowell) hit an off-balanced three from the corner to cut the Cowboy advantage to two with 11 seconds left. After a Wyoming free throw extended its lead to three, UB had a chance to tie the contest in the waning seconds of the game. But a Smiley three-point attempt followed by a Byron Mulkey (Wheatfield, NY/Niagara Wheatfield) try from three were off the mark enabling the Cowboys to hold on for the victory.

The 16-day layoff was evident early on as the Bulls struggled to find their shooting touch, shooting just 27 percent in the first half. However, UB came ready to play defensively, coming up with seven steals, four blocked shots and forced 15 Wyoming turnovers in the first stanza. Greg Gamble (Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara Falls) scored eight of his 10 points in the first half and the Bulls held a 31-26 lead at the break.

Smiley matched Gamble for UB scoring honors with 10 points. Andy Robinson (Schenectady, NY/Schenectady) added nine and Betts and Vadim Fedotov (Munich, Germany/Schloss Hagerhof) chipped in with eight points apiece. Fedotov added a team-high eight rebounds.

The Bulls pulled down 42 rebounds, including 22 offensive boards. However, UB could only manage 11 second-chance points.

There was a large disparity in free throws shot by each as the Bulls made nine of their 10 attempts, but Wyoming shot 33 free throws and made good on 22.

“When Wyoming got a little momentum, there was fright in the eyes of some of our guys, head coach Reggie Witherspoon said. “It’s hard to be successful when you have freight in your eyes.”

Buffalo will play USC-Upstate in the consolation game of the Sun Bowl Classic on Saturday at 5:00 pm (MST).