BUFFALO — Ohio’s Kenny Kaminski hit a long jumper with 0.8 seconds left on Tuesday night, breaking a 72-72 tie and leading the visiting Ohio Bobcats to a 74-72 victory inside Alumni Arena. Ohio remains perfect in MAC play, while the Bulls fall to 7-9 overall and 1-2 in MAC play.
The Bulls looked strong during the first 20 minutes of action as they took a 14-point halftime lead. Senior Willie Conner converted on a four-point play just five minutes into the game as Buffalo went up 13-5. A three-pointer from sophomore CJ Massinburg put the Bulls ahead 30-16 with 8:05 remaining and Buffalo took its largest lead of the first half at 32-17 following a layup from Ikenna Smart. Ohio cut the lead to eight, but the Bulls got it back to 14 at the break thanks to a buzzer-beating fast-break jumper from sophomore Nikola Rackicevic, giving UB the 42-28 advantage.
UB got its lead back up to 15 following a steal and fast-break three-point play from Rackicevic with 15:36 left. However, the Bobcats started to cut into the UB advantage and a three-pointer from Jordan Dartis pulled the Bobcats with two with 11:29 left. Buffalo went back up by four with 8:27 remaining when the game changed at the free throw line. Sophomore Nick Perkins was called for a personal foul and two technical fouls, ending his night, and giving Ohio six free throws, which they were perfect on all six to give the Bobcats their first lead of the night.
Ohio built its lead up to as many as five with 3:34 left, but the Bulls weren’t ready to go down just yet. The Bobcats continued to hold a two possession lead with 1:14 left when the Bulls tied the game up on two free throws from Blake Hamilton and two more from CJ Massinburg with 40 seconds left.
The Bobcats then regained possession and Jaaron Simmons was fouled with 30 seconds left. He missed both of his free throws, but the Bobcats got a questionable jump ball call and were able to hold for nearly the final possession, which they did, getting Kaminski’s jumper with under a second left. UB’s last chance effort was no good.
The Bulls were led by 17 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists from Hamilton, his second double-double of the season. Massinburg added 16 points and a career-high 11 rebounds for his second double-double in as many games. Massinburg is the first UB player this year with double-doubles in back-to-back games and the first since Hamilton did it last season. Massinburg and Hamilton also became the first UB duo with double-doubles in the same game since Shannon Evans and Justin Moss against Ohio on March 3, 2015.
Conner finished with 12 points, while Rackicevic had a season-high eight points, adding four rebounds. Smart and senior David Kadiri each finished with six points.
As a team, the Bulls outrebounded Ohio, 50-38. The 50 boards were the most in a game since UB had 50 against Toledo on Feb. 4, 2012.
Ohio was led by 14 points and five assists from Simmons and 13 points and eight rebounds from Gavin Block. UB did a nice job on reigning MAC Player of the Year Antonio Campbell, who had just nine points and six boards before fouling out.
The Bulls will remain home on Saturday afternoon when they host Ball State at Alumni Arena. Tipoff is set for 2 pm.
from UBBulls.com via IFTTT
