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University at Buffalo
8-314-7; MAC
Miami (OH)
5-69-13; MAC
Bulls Lead Wire To Wire For Win At Miami
2/12/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
OXFORD, OH – Behind another 20-point effort from senior Javon McCrea, the University at Buffalo men's basketball team led throughout on the road Wednesday night, defeating Miami (OH), 75-62, at Millett Hall. In the process, McCrea moved into second place on UB's all-time scoring list. The victory improves UB to 14-7 and 8-3 in the MAC. The 14 wins tie Buffalo's total from last season and their eight conference wins surpass their mark from last year.
Senior Joshua Freelove was dominant in the first half as his three-point shooting helped give the Bulls a game-high 17-point advantage. With UB leading 17-10, it continued its offensive prowess and a fast-break dunk from McCrea gave the Bulls a 40-23 lead with 4:11 left in the half. The RedHawks were able to close out the half on a 10-2 run as Buffalo took a 42-33 lead into the half.
UB regained a double figures lead over the first 10 minutes of the second half as it went up 57-46 following another dunk from McCrea. However, Miami had one final run left and pulled within one possession, on two separate occasions, including 61-58 with 5:56 left. The Bulls responded by scoring five straight points, beginning with a three-point play. McCrea kept it going as back-to-back thunderous dunks gave the Bulls a 70-60 lead with just 1:06 left and Miami wasn't able to pull any closer than nine.
"I liked the way we answered defensively in the second half," said head coach Bobby Hurley. "We took advantage of our size difference and our performance on the glass made the difference tonight."
McCrea picked up his 12th double-double with 25 points and 11 rebounds. His 25 points now give him 1,851 for his career, second in school history. The double-double was his fourth straight. McCrea added a pair of blocks, a pair of assists and two steals.
Freelove added 16 points, with 14 coming in the first half. He was 4-for-7 from three-point range in the opening half and added four rebounds and an assists.
Junior Will Regan finished with eight points, while senior Jarod Oldham had six points, six assists and five steals. Four other UB players finished with five points including Xavier Ford, Jarryn Skeete, Shannon Evans and Justin Moss. Moss and Evans both contributed six rebounds off the bench and Evans added four assists and a steal.
For the second straight game, the Bulls held a clear advantage in the rebounding column as they outrebounded Miami, 40-25. It was the second straight game that UB had a rebounding edge of over 14.
The Bulls shot just under 50 percent from the floor, finishing 28-for-57 (49.1). Defensively, the Bulls forced a season-high 11 steals.
Miami was led by 17 points off the bench from Jaryd Eustace and 13 points and eight rebounds from Will Felder.
After sweeping their two-game road stand, the Bulls return home for a very important two-game home stretch which begins this Saturday vs. Ohio. Tip off is at 2:30 and will be part of a doubleheader with the UB women, who face Northern Illinois at Noon.
