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Bulls Upend USC Upstate, 80-66

Sean Smiley

The Bulls utilized a balanced attack led by Andy Robinson (Schenectady, NY/Schenectady) who scored a season-high 18 points, including four three-pointers. Sean Smiley (Erie, PA/McDowell) added 14 points with three-pointers and was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Buffalo (6-5) fought off a sluggish start and erased an early eight-point deficit to take the lead for good, 19-16, on a Robinson three-pointer midway through the first half. The Bulls built their lead to as much as 10 in the first half. Brian Addison (Queens, NY/Andrew Jackson) grabbed and offensive rebound and hit a jumper at the buzzer to give the Bulls a 43-34 lead at the break.

Addison had the best game of his young career with six points, seven rebounds, two blocks and an assist in only 13 minutes.

A Robinson baseline reverse lay-up with 8:01 remaining gave the Bulls their largest lead of the night, 64-47. The Spartans whittled the lead down to six with 3:12 left. But Rodney Pierce (Buffalo, NY/Hutch Tech) was the Bulls’ go-to guy down the stretch as he scored nine of the Bulls’ final 11 points to hold off the Spartans. Pierce finished with 13 points and a career-high four steals.

Buffalo outrebounded Upstate, 44-36, including 19 offensive rebounds that resulted in 23 second chance points. Vadim Fedotov (Munich, Germany/Schloss Hagerhof) matched a career high with 10 rebounds to go along with six points.

Byron Mulkey (Weatfield, NY/Niagara Wheatfield) had seven points and a team-high five assists.

The Bulls committed only 13 turnovers and had fewer turnovers than their opponent for the third straight game.

“We did a better job communicating, especially defensively,” head coach Reggie Witherspoon said. “We had a 17-point lead and they charged back and we need to learn how to deal with that and tonight we dealt with it a little bit better.”

Buffalo will next play at UNC Asheville on December 29. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 pm.