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Buffalo Earns Emphatic Win at Milwaukee, 72-52
12/5/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MILWAUKEE, WI – The University at Buffalo men's basketball team put together its best all-around effort of the season to easily defeat Milwaukee, 72-52, at The Klotsche Center on Wednesday night. The Bulls shot a season-best 56 percent from the field and held a 47-23 rebounding edge.
Javon McCrea scored a career-high 31 points on 15-of-19 shooting and pulled down 11 rebounds for his second double-double in as many games. The junior forward added a season-high four blocked shots.
For as well as McCrea played, fellow junior Auraum Nuiriankh did his best to steal the spotlight. The Baltimore native had 13 points and 15 rebounds – both career highs. The 15 boards were the most by a UB player since Calvin Betts had 18 caroms against Kent State in the quarterfinals of the 2009 MAC Tournament.
Buffalo (3-7) jumped out to an 11-2 lead and never looked back. The Panthers missed their first eight shots from the field and only shot 21 percent in the first half. Conversely, the Bulls shot 57 percent in the first half and built a 36-21 advantage at the break.
In the second half, Milwaukee cut the lead to 47-36, before a Nuiriankh three-pointer sparked a 19-3 scoring run and gave the Bulls their largest lead of the game, 66-39, with 5:29 left.
The Panthers had no answer for McCrea who seemed to score at will. All 15 of his field goals came in the paint. In fact, as a team, 58 of UB's 72 points were scored in the paint. Will Regan added 10 points and a career-best seven rebounds.
After a solid game at St. Bonaventure, Jarryn Skeete earned his first career start against Milwaukee. The freshman guard finished with three points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals in 17 minutes.
"We're closer to having 40 minutes of focus and that was the key for us defensively," head coach Reggie Witherspoon said. "Inside we really established a presence around the basket. Once we scored in the paint against them I think it actually helped our defense."
Buffalo will return home to host Niagara on Saturday night at Alumni Arena.
