BUFFALO — The University at Buffalo men’s basketball team had their six-game winning streak snapped tonight as the Bulls fell to the Kent State Golden Flashes, 77-69. The loss also snaps UB’s seven-game winning streak against Kent State.
The Bulls struggled in the first half, turning the ball over nine times, but UB was still able to take a small lead into the break. Kent State led 16-10 midway through the opening half when the Bulls went on a 16-4 run as a layup from Blake Hamilton gave Buffalo a 26-20 advantage with 4:28. The six-point lead was UB’s largest of the night. The Golden Flashes cut UB’s lead to just one at the break, 33-32.
In the second half, the Bulls regained a 41-38 lead following a pair of free throws from CJ Massinburg with 16:25 left, but then Kent State answered with an 11-2 run to take a 49-43 lead. The Bulls would come back and tie the game up at 49-49 with 10:03 remaining, but a Jaylin Walker three-pointer ignited a 9-2 Kent State run and the Golden Flashes would not trail again.
Kent State extended its lead to 65-56 with 3:52 left, but the Bulls couldn’t pull any closer than five, which they did with 1:30 left. However, the Golden Flashes extended their lead to 76-66 with just 34 seconds left, their largest lead of the night. UB was unable to get closer than eight, falling 77-69.
Buffalo had a hard time stopping Walker, who finished with 22 points, while senior Jimmy Hall had a game-high 26 points and 10 rebounds for the Golden Flashes, who improved to 8-7 in league play, just one game behind the Bulls.
Hamilton, who had 22 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, led UB. Massinburg added 14 points and six boards, but they were the only two Buffalo players in double figures.
Seniors David Kadiri and Willie Conner each had eight points, as Conner pulled down seven rebounds, including six in the first half.
The Bulls shot 41.0% from the floor, but just 5-of-21 from three-point range on the evening.
Buffalo will conclude its three-game homestand on Friday night when the Bulls host Akron in a rematch of last year’s MAC Championship game. The contest will tip at 8 p.m. and will air nationally on CBS Sports Network.
from UBBulls.com via IFTTT
