8-4, 1-0MAC
Miami (OH)
3-11, 0-1MAC
Bulls Take MAC Opener Over Miami, 73-55
1/9/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo men's basketball
team defeated Miami (OH), 73-55, in the Mid-American Conference
opener for both teams at Alumni Arena on Saturday afternoon. The
Bulls jumped out to an 18-3 lead and never looked back en route to
their largest margin of victory over the RedHawks since joining the
conference in 1998.
Rodney Pierce scored 21 points to lead UB scorers. It marked the
sixth straight game that the senior guard surpassed the 20-point
plateau.
Calvin Betts notched his fourth double-double of the season with 11
points and 11 rebounds.
Buffalo (8-4, 1-0 MAC) led by as many as 17 in the first half
before the RedHawks cut the lead to eight by halftime. Miami
whittled the lead to three with 15:52 left in the game. A jumper by
Pierce and a three-pointer by Betts quickly extended the UB lead to
eight.
Leading 49-41 with 10:10 remaining, the Bulls mounted a 20-4
scoring run to take a 24-point lead, their largest of the game.
Reserves Sean Smiley and Max Boudreau played a large role in the
Bulls' second-half surge as they scored seven and nine second-half
points, respectively. Smiley finished with nine points and Boudreau
tallied 11.
The Bulls shot 50 percent from the field for the game, including a
sizzling 64 percent in the second half. Defensively, UB held the
RedHawks to 35 percent shooting, including 2-of-14 from beyond the
arc. The Bulls also outrebounded Miami, 38-30.
Miami was led by Adam Fletcher who scored a career-high 21
points.
Following the game, the team presented the game ball to Carol
Greiner whose husband, former UB president William Greiner,
recently passed away.
Buffalo will next play at Bowling Green Thursday night. Tipoff is
scheduled for 7:00 pm.
