3-1
Grand Canyon
2-3
Season-High Offensive Outburst Leads Bulls To Road Win At Grand Canyon
11/25/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
PHOENIX, AZ – Junior Justin Moss scored a career-best 26 points and sophomore Shannon Evans added 23 as the State University of New York, Buffalo men's basketball team defeated Grand Canyon, 80-64. The win improves the Bulls to 3-1 on the season.
Evans stole the show in the first half as he scored 18 of his points before the intermission, including four three pointers. Junior Jarryn Skeete knocked down 11 of his own in the first half as the Bulls shot nearly 60% from the floor. The host Antelopes led in the game just once for 22 seconds at 8-7 when the Bulls answered with a 10-0 run, all coming via Evans. Grand Canyon pulled back within two, but back-to-back three balls from Skeete and Evans put UB back up eight.
The Bulls would go on to lead by as many as 18 in the opening half as a layup from Moss put the Bulls ahead 43-25 with 2:19 left. A small run at the end of the half by GCU put the Bulls into the break ahead 45-32.
With the offensive success of Evans in the first half, that opened up the post and Moss took full advantage in the second half scoring 18 of his 26 points. In fact, Moss scored the first nine points of the second half for the Bulls. Both teams got into foul trouble early in the half, so much of the scoring was done at the free throw line.
The Antelopes cut the UB lead to 57-47 with 9:41 left when the Bulls went on an 11-0 run, capped off on a fast-break layup from freshman Lamonte Bearden to give the Bulls a 68-47 lead with 7:18 remaining. Grand Canyon pulled within 13 with 2:37 left, but got no closer.
For the first time this season and the first time since Feb. 19 of last year, the Bulls had two 20-point scorers. Moss added nine rebounds and two steals, while Evans had a season-high seven assists, while turning it over just once. He also finished with six rebounds and two steals.
Skeete added 14 points, while for the fourth straight game Bearden finished with eight points. All eight players that saw action tonight found the scoring column. Senior Will Regan had two points and six rebounds, as did junior Rodell Wigginton. Junior Raheem Johnson finished with three points, while senior Xavier Ford had two points, three rebounds and four assists, all going to Moss down low.
As a team, the Bulls shot 28-of-54 from the floor, setting season highs for both field goal percentage and field goals made. They also set season highs for 3pt field goal percentage, assists and steals.
Grand Canyon moved to 2-3 on the season as it placed three in double figures led by 19 from Royce Woolridge and 16 off the bench from Ryan Majerle.
After traveling more than 7,000 miles over the last 10 days, the Bulls will remain on the road, but will be much closer to home as they make the short trip to downtown Buffalo and the First Niagara Center. UB will face Canisius in the second game of the Big 4 DH Classic, tipping off on Saturday at approximately 4:15 pm.
