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University at Buffalo
10-4, 3-0MAC
Akron
12-5, 2-1MAC
Bulls Take Down Akron, 78-65
1/17/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo men's basketball
team defeated Akron, 78-65, in a rematch of the 2009 Mid-American
Conference championship game. With the win, the Bulls improved to
3-0 in MAC play for the first time since joining the conference in
1998.
Rodney Pierce tied a career-high with 31 points to become the first
player in the Bulls' Division I history to score 20 or more points
in eight straight games. Pierce shot 4-of-5 from the three-point
line and 7-for-7 from the free throw line. He also added four of
the Bulls' season-high 13 steals.
Sean Smiley, who was the hero in Thursday night's win at Bowling
Green, added 21 points on 8-of-9 shooting. He was a perfect 4-of-4
from beyond the arc. The senior guard had a career-best five
steals.
The game was knotted at 27 late in the first half before the Bulls
closed the half on a 13-0 scoring run to take a 40-27 lead into the
locker room.
The Bulls built on their momentum to start the second half and a
basket and free throw by Pierce put UB ahead, 49-32, with 14:42
remaining. The 17-point advantage was Buffalo's largest of the
game.
However, the Zips responded with a 9-0 scoring run to quickly cut
the deficit to eight with 12:16 left. But Smiley quieted Akron by
scoring six straight points, capped by a steal and breakaway layup
to put the Bulls ahead, 55-41.
Akron (12-5, 2-1 MAC) whittled the lead to six with 6:02 left,
before Smiley struck again. John Boyer found a streaking Smiley on
a backdoor cut for a reverse layup to give the Bulls an eight-point
lead. From there, it was Pierce's turn to take over. The senior
guard hit a three and a driving layup to help the Bulls regain a
13-point advantage and put the game on ice.
Max Boudreau scored 10 points, including a perfect 8-for-8 from the
free throw line.
"It was hard-fought game. Akron is a very physical team," head
coach Reggie Witherspoon said. "I thought once we got through the
initial onslaught of their defense, we were able to get some
movement and get them spread out a little bit. We didn't slow down.
We kept moving the ball and kept moving bodies and I think the big
thing was that today we had a better defensive effort."
The Bulls improved to 10-4 overall and 3-0 in the conference to sit
alone atop the MAC East Division.
Buffalo will travel to Kent State for the first of two straight
road games on Wednesday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 pm.
