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BUFFALO, NY - The UB men's basketball team saw a near victory escape their grasp, falling to visiting Eastern Michigan 54-51 Wednesday night before 956 at Alumni Arena.

Tied 19-19 at halftime, UB came out with five quick points to lead 24-19. EMU fought back, to tie the score at 27-27, before Alexei Vasiliev (St. Petersburg, Russia/Russian Junior National) hit a three-pointer to give the Bulls the lead. Eastern Michigan came back to tie the game again and took a lead on a free throw by DeSean Hadley. The Eagles got up by as many as eight points, 42-34, with 10:33 left, but UB made a come back, only to fall short again. Tied at 49-49 with three minutes remaining, UB could score just two points the rest of the game as Eastern Michigan held on for the 54-51 win.

The Bulls controlled much of the first half. The Eagles only lead in the first half was 2-0 on the first bucket of the game. A three-pointer by Koran Godwin (Roselle, NJ/Abraham Clark) gave UB its largest lead, 15-6, with 9:01 remaining in the half. The Eagles chipped away at the lead, using a 10-2 run to end the half and go to the lockerroom tied at 19-19.

The Bulls played outstanding defense, holding the Eagles to just 29-percent (18-for-62) shooting from the field, but lost the battle on the boards, 46-34. EMU pulled down 23 offensive rebounds compared to UB's eight offensive boards.

Buffalo (4-19, 0-12) was led by Alexei Vasiliev, the only Bull in double figures, with 10 points. Ryan Peterson (Clark, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) recorded seven points, five rebounds and five assists in the game. Eastern Michigan (3-16, 3-9) was led by Ajani Williams with a game-high 12 points and eight rebounds. DeSean Hadley added 10 points in the win.