11-4, 2-1MAC
Northern Illinois
7-7, 1-2MAC
Bulls Tame Huskies, 82-63
1/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, men's basketball team placed five in double figures as the Bulls defeated Northern Illinois 82-63, Wednesday night at Alumni Arena. The win improves UB to 11-4 on the year and 2-1 in MAC play.
After allowing over 70 points in three straight games, the Bulls began tonight's game strong defensively, allowing just 21 points in the first half. However, UB struggled to score early on and trailed midway through the first half, 13-12, when they began to get it going. UB went on a 17-2 run, which was ignited by three straight three pointers from junior Jarryn Skeete, putting the Bulls ahead 29-15.
The Huskies pulled back within 12 with just under four minutes left in the opening half, but the Bulls ended the half on an 11-2 run, capped off with a put back layup from junior Justin Moss as the first half came to a close. UB took a 42-21 lead into the break.
The second half saw both teams eclipse the 40-point mark as NIU got as close as 15, but the Bulls would not allow their lead to evaporate as they went on a 9-0 run to take a 67-43 lead. UB used its defense and its ability to run the floor to create it's offense, scoring a season-high 24 fast break points, most of those coming from junior Rodell Wigginton and freshman Lamonte Bearden.
UB continued to get out and run the floor as a fast break dunk from sophomore Shannon Evans gave the Bulls their largest lead of the game at 77-50 with 4:53 remaining. The Huskies pulled within 16 late in the game, but a three-point play gave the Bulls the 82-63 win.
"I am excited about the energy we had on defense in the first half and we had great balance with a lot of guys contributing and playing well," said head coach Bobby Hurley, who picked up his 30th career win tonight. "I thought Jarryn provided a great spark to get our offense going because we weren't playing great offense over the first seven minutes and he got that going."
Moss led the Bulls with 18 points, while adding two assists, two blocks and three steals. Skeete finished with 14 points, while Evans had 13 points, four assists and four steals. Bearden added 11 points and six assists.
Wigginton came off the bench after starting the last five games and continued to give great minutes as he finished with 12 points, six rebounds and three steals in 24 minutes. Senior Xavier Ford added six points and eight rebounds off the bench, while fellow senior Will Regan had four points and three blocked shots.
UB got also got solid minutes off the bench from junior Raheem Johnson, who had four points and four rebounds in 18 minutes of action.
The Bulls finished the night with a season-low six turnovers, while forcing NIU into 16 turnovers, 13 of those coming from UB steals. The 13 steals by the Bulls were a season-best as were the nine blocked shots.
Northern Illinois evened its record to 7-7 and dropped to 1-2 in the MAC. The Huskies were led by 21 points from Anthony Johnson and 16 points from Aaric Armstead.
The Bulls will remain home on Saturday afternoon as they will face Miami (OH) for the second time this season. The game will be part of a doubleheader with the UB women and will be part of Military Appreciation Day.
