9-2, 2-0MAAC
Manhattan
4-4, 0-0MAC
Bulls Drop Overtime Heartbreaker At Barclays Center
12/21/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BROOKLYN, NY – In a game that featured 12 ties and 17 lead changes, the University at Buffalo was unable to hold on to a late seven-point lead and fell to Manhattan, 84-81 in overtime, Saturday afternoon at the Barclays Center. The loss evens UB's record at 4-4 on the season.
The Bulls held a late second half lead as they were up 75-68 with just 45 seconds left. However, a Manhattan three pointer, followed by a three point play put the Jaspers within striking distance. UB regained a three-point lead at 77-74, but with five second left, Shane Richards was fouled on a three-point attempt and hit all three shots to tie the game up. Freshman Shannon Evans had one last look at the basket, but was unable to connect.
Manhattan scored the first four points of the overtime period, but with UB down, 81-78, senior Joshua Freelove drained a triple to even the score at 81-81. Manhattan regained the lead with just 18 seconds left and held on for the 84-81 victory. Evans had one last look at three, but his shot was just off the mark.
Manhattan, who entered today's game following a double-digit road victory against South Carolina of the SEC earlier this week, had all they can handle with the pesky UB squad, who outrebounded the Jaspers, but were hurt by 22 turnovers. Manhattan grabbed a quick 7-3 lead to start the afternoon, but the Bulls led for most of the opening 20 minutes. With the Bulls down 9-8 early, a brief altercation caused two Manhattan players to be ejected and Evans was able to knock down all four free throws.
UB led by as many as nine points in the first half following a three pointer from Evans, which gave UB a 33-24 lead with 5:50 left. Manhattan went on a 13-4 run to tie the game up, but a pair of free throws gave the Bulls a 41-39 lead at the break.
Manhattan grabbed its largest lead of the game at six with 7:16 left in the second half, but Freelove went on a 7-0 run by himself, capped off on an ally-oop dunk from Evans, which gave the Bulls a 65-64 lead with 4:56 left in regulation. The Bulls would remain in front until the late free throws tied the game in the final five seconds.
"The college game is great because of games like this," said head coach Bobby Hurley. "We had two teams that played extremely hard, but give them credit they made more plays than we did at critical moments in the game today."
Evans finished with a team-high 20 points, the first UB freshman to score 20 points in a game since Javon McCrea in 2009-10. Evans did most of his damage from the free throw line where he was 13-for-15. Evans also added five assists and two steals.
McCrea recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 18 points and 11 rebounds, adding three blocks and three steals. Freelove added a career-high 17 points, while also finishing with five blocked shots.
Junior Xavier Ford also finished in double figures with 10 points, including 8-for-10 from the free throw line. Ford added four rebounds and a block. Junior Will Regan finished with seven points while senior Jarod Oldham five points, two rebounds and four assists.
As a team, UB finished with 12 blocked shots, its most in a game since also recording 12 against Kent State last season. The Bulls also made a season-high 30 free throws, going 30-37 from the charity stripe.
It will be a quick turnaround for the Bulls though as they return to action on Monday afternoon. The Bulls host Binghamton at Alumni Arena at 12:00 pm. Tickets for this game are just $10 and include a concession voucher good for a hot dog or soft pretzel, a bag of chips and small fountain drink.
