Kent State
Second Half Surge Leads Bulls To 71-60 Victory Over Kent State
1/18/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY - A season-high 25 points from junior Will Regan helped lead the University at Buffalo men's basketball team to a 71-60 victory over Kent State, Saturday evening at Alumni Arena. Regan had 19 points in the second half as the Bulls outscored the Golden Flashes, 44-31, over the final 20 minutes of play. The victory improves UB to 9-5 on the year and 3-1 in the league, while the Bulls remain a perfect 8-0 at Alumni Arena.
UB quickly erased a five-point deficit in the second half as Regan knocked down a triple for the first three of his 19 second-half points. The Golden Flashes continued to lead 36-34 when the Bulls went on an 18-4 run in just over five minutes to take the lead 52-40 with 10:25 left. The final three points came from the free throw line as freshman Shannon Evans was fouled on a three-point attempt. The Bulls continued to increase their lead and a pair of free throw by Regan gave the Bulls a 59-43 advantage with 6:41 left. The 16-point lead was Buffalo's largest of the night.
Kent State pulled within 10 at 65-55, but UB quickly went on a 6-0 run to regain that largest lead at 71-55 with 53 second left. The Golden Flashes scored the final five points of the game.
The Bulls shot 46.4% in the second half, including 45.5% from three and more importantly, turned the ball over just three times in the half. It was a far cry from the first half when the Bulls really struggled to get anything going offensively, but was able to thank its defensive for heading into the break down just 29-27.
The Golden Flashes opened the night on a 10-4 run to take the early lead, but then the Bulls went on top thanks to an 9-0 run, which was capped off on a put-back tip from sophomore Justin Moss. Kent State regained the edge, taking its largest lead of the game at 26-19 with 3:53 left in the half, but the Bulls answered with an 8-0 run late in the half as Regan converted on a three-point play to give UB the 27-26 lead. However, Kent State got a three pointer from Devareaux Manley to take the 29-27 lead into the half.
"I was concerned with the psyche of our players coming off the emotional loss on Wednesday at Toledo and in the first half tonight we really helped ourselves out with our defense," said head coach Bobby Hurley. "Our offensive was a little bit sluggish, but in the second half I thought that Will Regan was great and he got into a little rhythm inside and out and Joshua Freelove got it going after a tough first half."
Regan led three players in double figures, recording his first career double-double. The 25 points were a season-high and the second most in his UB career. The 10 rebounds, tied his career high, which he set against Drexel.
Freelove scored 14 points, all in the second half, while senior Javon McCrea finished with 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists. The 12 points gave McCrea 1,700 for his UB career. Fellow senior Jarod Oldham had a solid night on both ends of the floor as he finished with nine points, four rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal. Oldham led all players in minutes played tonight with 37. Junior Xavier Ford added three rebounds and three steals.
Off the bench, Evans had six points, five assists and three steals, while not turning the ball over in 29 minutes of action.
The Bulls, who were able to get to the free throw line just six times in the game Wednesday night, made 23 trips to the charity stripe on Saturday, hitting 21 of those free throws, including all 13 in the second half.
UB also continued its strong defense, especially at the three-point line as Kent State shot just 27.3% from behind the arc, the sixth straight opponent to shoot 30% or worse from three.
The Bulls will now hit the road for two straight in conference play beginning on Thursday night at Ball State. That game will tip off at 8:00 pm and air on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel.
