9-3
Cornell
6-8
Evans Drops 33 In 92-73 Win Over Cornell
1/3/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – Sophomore Shannon Evans completed quite the week on Saturday afternoon as he scored a career-high 33 points just one game after recording a triple-double. The career high helped lead the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York to a 92-73 win over Cornell, ending the Bulls non-conference schedule with a 9-3 record. The 9-3 record was UB's best non-conference mark since going 10-1 in 2005-06. UB also improved to 4-0 at home this season, the second straight year they went undefeated in non-conference at Alumni Arena.
In the first half, the Bulls were able to withstand a hot shooting Cornell team, that went 50% from the floor, including 6-for-11 from three-point range. Despite UB's best efforts to stop each Big Red run, Cornell found itself with a 33-24 lead with just under five minutes to go in the first half, its largest lead of the game. However, Evans began to heat up over the final five minutes as he ignited a 17-6 run over the final 4:49, give the Bulls a 41-39 lead into the break. Evans had 11 of the 17 points, including a three from the corner just before the half ended. He had been scoreless up until that point.
Evans and the Bulls then took over in the second half, scoring a season-high 51 points over the final 20 minutes of play. UB went on a 22-10 run over the first seven and a half minutes of the half, getting four three pointers, including two from Evans. Senior Will Regan and junior Rodell Wigginton also hit from long range during the run. A baseline dunk from Evans with 8:19 remaining gave the Bulls a 76-57 lead.
Cornell was able to cut the deficit to 11 with 6:15 remaining, but Evans scored five straight, including another triple, to put the Bulls back up by 16, 81-65. Evans capped off his night with one final three pointer with 1:53 left to give the Bulls a 92-72 lead as he finished with 33 points.
"I think we have established ourselves over the first 11 games of the season and it wasn't a surprise how hard Cornell came at us in the first half," said head coach Bobby Hurley. "I'm glad that we were tested the way we were and it was nice to see our guys come back and respond. The run we made late to put us up two at the half was big and obviously Shannon had a terrific game going and we just kept call his number and he gave us great energy and really had one of the great games that I have seen since I've been here."
The 33 points from Evans were the most by a UB player this season and the most since Javon McCrea had 34 points against Bowling Green last year. Evans went 9-of-14 from the floor, including 8-of-11 from behind the arc. The eight three pointers are tied for third most by a player in a single game. Josh Freelove had eight three pointers in a game last year. The Suffolk, VA native also went 7-of-8 from the free throw line and had four rebounds, five assists and a steal.
Freshman Lamonte Bearden recorded his first career double-double with 14 points and a career-high 10 assists, the second straight game that a UB player finished with 10 assists. Bearden went 5-for-9 from the floor and 4-for-4 from the free throw line. H also added three steals.
Wigginton picked up his third straight start and finished with 14 points, including several big dunks and two big three pointers. Junior Justin Moss had 11 points, his sixth straight game scoring in double figures.
Regan added nine points and five rebounds, while fellow senior Xavier Ford finished with six points and six rebounds off the bench. Junior Raheem Johnson had five points and a block.
The Bulls finished the game with a season-high 11 three-pointers as they went 11-of-22 from behind the arc. UB tied its season-low with seven turnovers for the second straight game and committed a season-low 14 personal fouls.
Cornell dropped to 6-8 on the season as they had a pair of players with 20 points, led by 23 points from Devin Cherry and 20 points from Shonn Miller.
The Bulls will open up Mid-American Conference play now on Wednesday night at Miami (OH) with tip off set for 7:00 pm.
