University at Buffalo
13-9, 6-5MAC
Eastern Michigan
12-12, 4-7MAC
Bulls Scorch Eastern Michigan, 84-67
2/10/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – The Bulls hit their first six shots against
Eastern Michigan on Wednesday night and it was a sign of things to
come as Buffalo went on to shoot 66.7 percent from the field en
route to an 84-67 win over Eastern Michigan at Alumni Arena. The
Bulls' shooting percentage was the second best single-game
performance in school history.
Buffalo (13-9, 6-5 MAC) never trailed in the game to earn its
second straight win. Both teams came out of the gates blazing,
shooting over 60 percent from the field in the first half. The
Bulls shot 60 percent and the Eagles shot 64 percent in the first
stanza. UB held a 42-39 lead at the break.
Rodney Pierce scored the Bulls' first 11 points of the second half
to help UB outscore Eastern Michigan, 15-2, to start the half. A
layup by Calvin Betts, with 10:35 left, extended the Bulls' lead to
18 points. The Eagles cut the lead to 14 points with 5:00
remaining, but would get no closer as the Bulls played inspired
defense in the second half to pull away for the victory. UB shot a
sizzling 74 percent from the field in the second half.
Pierce led all scorers with 27 points on 11-of-14 shooting.
Mitchell Watt added a career-high 14 points, including a pair of
thunderous dunks, in one of the best games of his young career.
Betts, Jawaan Alston and Titus Robinson each added eight points.
Betts also grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.
With John Boyer plagued with foul trouble, Tony Watson saw the most
extensive action of his career. The freshman point guard had four
points, an assist and a steal in 13 minutes.
Eastern Michigan (12-12, 4-7 MAC) was led by Brandon Bowdry who
finished with 26 points and eight rebounds.
"Offensively, we needed to be more determined to get the shots that
we were comfortable with. The shots that we wanted to take. As we
did that, we made more," head coach Reggie Witherspoon said.
Buffalo will host Kent State on Saturday at noon. The game will be
televised nationally on ESPNU.
