University at Buffalo
Ohio
Bulls Can't Hold off Ohio
2/15/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – The Ohio Bobcats shot 74 percent in the second half to erase an eight-point halftime deficit and defeat Buffalo, 76-69, at Alumni Arena on Tuesday night. It was just the third home loss suffered by the Bulls this season.
Buffalo (15-9, 7-5 MAC) jumped out to an 11-point first-half lead and held a 32-24 lead at the half.
A Dave Barnett dunk extended the Buffalo advantage to 48-39 with 13:57 left in the game. A layup by Zach Filzen put the Bulls ahead, 58-51, with nine minutes remaining. However, an 11-2 Ohio scoring run gave the Bobcats their first lead of the game, 62-60, with 5:21 remaining.
Barnett grabbed an offensive rebound and his layup put the Bulls ahead, 64-63, with 4:12 left. Following a D.J. Cooper jumper, Barnett tied the game at 65 with a free throw with 3:02 remaining.
With the Bulls trailing, 69-67, Mitchell Watt came up with a block at the defensive end. However, Ohio was able to come up with the loose ball and Cooper knocked down a three-pointer to put Ohio up by five with 1:32 left. The Bulls never recovered.
Buffalo was led by Filzen and Javon McCrea who each scored 15 points. Filzen knocked down three three-pointers and McCrea added six rebounds and three blocked shots. Byron Mulkey also reached double-figures with 13 points.
Watt had eight points and Barnett finished with seven points, six rebounds and five assists.
The Bulls shot 51 percent from the field, but were hurt by 16 turnovers. Ohio was able to convert those turnovers into 25 points.
Ohio was led by Cooper and Ivo Baltic who each netted 24 points.
"It's hard to shoot 76 percent from the field with no one guarding you," head coach Reggie Witherspoon said. "That means we did some things poorly defensively."
Buffalo will remain at home host Milwaukee in an ESPNU BracketBuster matchup on Saturday night at 7:00 pm.
