BUFFALO — For the second straight season the University at Buffalo men’s basketball team and the Canisius Golden Griffins played an overtime game, but this year the Griffs got the upper hand in the contest, defeating Buffalo, 94-87.
Canisius had a career night from Jermaine Crumpton as his 31 points, including five three pointers, were the difference in the game. The Bulls were hot from the field early on Saturday afternoon, as a three pointer from Willie Conner gave UB the early 14-6 lead just four minutes in. Buffalo increased its lead to 21-12 following a jumper by Blake Hamilton, giving the Bulls their largest lead of the afternoon with 12:47 left.
Canisius tied the game up at 32-32 when the Bulls went on an 11-2 run as a pair of free throws from Raheem Johnson put the Bulls back ahead by nine with 4:17 left in the first half. A three-pointer by Crumpton as time expired pulled Canisius within 49-46 at the break. The 49 points scored in the first half were the most by the Bulls this year.
Canisius took its first lead of the game just over three minutes into the second half, but it remained a one possession game for nearly the entire second half. The Griffs took a late 81-79 lead before senior Blake Hamilton tied it up at 81-81 as he hit a layup with 1:11 left. Neither team scored over the final minute, sending the game into overtime.
Canisius opened overtime on an 8-1 run over first 2:15 of the extra period, taking its largest lead of the game at 89-82. Five straight points from the Bulls pulled UB back within 89-87 following a jumper from CJ Massinburg with 1:30 left, but the Bulls got no closer. The Griffs hit five free throws down the stretch, while the Bulls were unable to find the scoring column over the final 90 seconds.
Hamilton led the Bulls with his first double-double of the season as he finished with 19 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Nick Perkins added 18 points, while Conner had 17 and Massinburg finished with 16. The group of four had 70 of UB’s 87 points on the afternoon.
Johnson had eight points and five rebounds off the bench. Redshirt sophomore Dontay Caruthers played 31 minutes as he tied for the team lead with five assists.
The Bulls will now head back down to the Steel City on Wednesday night when Buffalo faces Robert Morris at PPG Paints Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
Canisius will close out the non-conference portion of its 2016-17 schedule on Thursday, Dec. 22, when the team travels to play at long-time rival St. Bonaventure. Tipoff in the Reilly Center is set for 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on Time Warner Cable Sports Channel, and the audio call will be on Timeless WECK 1230-AM and 102.9-FM in Buffalo and the Golden Griffin Broadcast Network.
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