BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The University at Buffalo men’s basketball team went on a 24-4 run in the second half on Saturday as the Bulls won their fourth straight game with an 88-74 win at Bowling Green. The Bulls had four players in doubles figures as they improved to 13-12 and 7-5 in the MAC.
The Bulls shot 72.7% from the field in the first half, but Buffalo turned it over 13 times over the first 20 minutes and Bowling Green hit seven of its 11 three-pointers in the first half. The Falcons led by as many as eight points in the opening half at 35-27 with 5:11 left, but UB went on a 6-0 run as a fast-break layup from freshman Davonta Jordan pulled the Bulls within two. Buffalo went into the break down just 42-39 following a late jumper from CJ Massinburg before the buzzer.
The two teams traded the lead back and forth over the first five minutes of the second half and the Falcons held on to a 53-52 lead when the Bulls scored eight straight points, beginning a game-changing 24-4 run. Sophomore Ikenna Smart began the run with a three-point play and redshirt sophomore Dontay Caruthers had four of the first eight points. A jumper from senior Blake Hamilton gave the Bulls their largest lead of the game at 76-57 with 6:54 left.
Bowling Green had one last run in it as the Falcons scored eight straight points to pull within 11, but then the Bulls scored six straight points as a pair of free throws from Caruthers put Buffalo back ahead, 82-65. UB went on to take the contest, 88-74.
Hamilton led the Bulls with 19 points, while CJ Massinburg and Caruthers each finished with 18. It was a new career high for Caruthers, who added five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Together, Massinburg and Caruthers went 13-of-17 from the floor.
Senior Willie Conner had his first career double-double with 15 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. Jordan added six points.
The Bulls shot 63.5% from the floor, its highest total in a game since UB shot 63.3% on Feb. 19, 2014 in a win over Akron. The Bulls outrebounded Bowling Green 37-28 in the contest.
The Falcons had their three-game winning streak snapped as they fell to 5-7 in conference play. Dylan Frye led BG with 20 points and added seven rebounds.
Buffalo will remain on the road Tuesday night when they travel to Mt. Pleasant, MI to take on Central Michigan. Tipoff is set for 7pm and the game will air on the American Sports Network. Buffalo won the first meeting between the two teams 101-91.
from UBBulls.com via IFTTT
