10-4, 1-1MAC
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
Western Michigan
10-5, 1-1MAC
Slow Start Hurts Bulls At Western Michigan
1/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
KALAMAZOO, MI – The host Western Michigan Broncos opened the game on a 16-4 run and defeated the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, men's basketball team, 78-68, Saturday afternoon at University Arena. The loss snaps a three-game winning streak for the Bulls as they fall to 10-4 and 1-1 in the MAC.
Western Michigan hit its first seven shots of the game as it got out to a 16-4 lead just four and a half minutes into the contest. It was a game that featured 51 combined fouls and 64 total free throws between the two teams.
The Bulls pulled within one in the first half as sophomore Shannon Evans scored five straight points to pull within 26-25 with 4:26 left, but the Broncos responded with a 9-0 run to retake a double digit lead. Western Michigan took a 37-29 lead into the break.
The Bulls pulled within six in the second as a pair of free throws from Justin Moss made the score 61-55 with 7:17 remaining. However, Western Michigan went on an 11-0 run to take its largest lead of the game at 72-55 with 4:13 left. The Bulls were able to pull within 10, but got no closer in the game.
"I give Western a lot of credit today, they were more physical and they were the better team on the floor," said head coach Bobby Hurley. "Our shots weren't falling for us today and our defense was not at the level it needs to be."
Evans and Moss each finished with a game-high 23 points, as Moss added 11 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the year. They were the only two Bulls to score in double figures.
Rodell Wigginton added eight points and five rebounds, while junior Jarryn Skeete saw action for the first time since Dec. 19 and had four points in the game. Defensively, UB had seven blocked shots, led by three from junior Raheem Johnson.
Western Michigan improved to 10-5 on the year and 1-1 in the MAC as they had four players in double figures led by 21 points from Austin Richie and 17 points from David Brown.
The Bulls will return home on Wednesday evening for the first of two straight home games. UB hosts Northern Illinois at 7:00 pm.
