18-9, 9-6MAC
Akron
17-11, 8-7MAC
Bulls Win Third Straight With 67-62 Victory Over Akron
2/24/2015 12:00:00β―AM | Men's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – Despite shooting just 33.3% from the floor, the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, men's basketball team tied a season-low with just six turnovers and recorded 24 offensive rebounds in a 67-62 victory over Akron on Tuesday night at Alumni Arena. The win moves the Bulls past the Zips in the MAC East Standings and just one game out of first place. UB is now 18-9 and 9-6 in conference play.
The Bulls had to fight back all evening against Akron, who got out to an early 18-10 lead just seven minutes and twenty seconds into the game. However, UB answered with a 10-0 run, which was capped off on back-to-back baskets from junior Rodell Wigginton as the Bulls took a 20-18 lead. UB led by as many as five points in the first half, but a 9-2 Akron run gave the Zips the lead back. Akron took a one-point lead into the half, 34-33.
UB struggled offensively in the beginning of the second half as Akron scored the first six points of the half to take a 40-33 lead, but back-to-back buckets from Justin Moss, followed by a Shannon Evans three pointer quickly tied the game back up at 40-40 just five minutes into the half.
Akron rebuilt a 47-42 lead, but the Bulls answered with a 9-2 run, capped off on a fast-break layup from Evans, which gave the Bulls a 51-49 lead with 5:21 left. Akron regained the lead at 56-53 with 3:45 left in the contest, but a Jarryn Skeete free throw and a Moss dunk tied the game back up with just under two minutes left.
The Bulls regained possession with 90 seconds left, and following two time outs to draw up the perfect play, Evans found Moss down low to give the Bulls a two-point lead. A steal by Xavier Ford on the next play sent Moss to the line and he calmly knocked down two, while Ford hit two free throws as well to give UB to 62-56 lead with 30 seconds left.
As Akron tried to roll it in to preserve the clock, Evans came diving out of nowhere to pick up the steal and get the timeout. Two free throws from Wigginton gave UB a 64-56 lead, which was actually its largest lead of the game. UB hit nine of its final 10 free throws to hold on for the win.
"We struggled shooting the basketball tonight, but we didn't turn the ball over and we got 24 offensive rebounds, which shows the energy that we played with," said head coach Bobby Hurley. "There are a variety of ways in which you win and lose games, and we have had some adversity in the past not finishing out games, but we are learning how to close these games out and it comes with the plays that we made on defense."
Moss recorded his 13th double-double of the year and his 12th 20-point game of the year with 25 points and 13 rebounds to lead all players. Moss also added an assist, two blocks and two steals. Evans added 13 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals, while Wigginton came off the bench to add 12 points, four rebounds and three assists.
All eight players in the rotation found the scoring column as freshman Lamonte Bearden added six points, four rebounds and three assists, while Ford had five points and six rebounds and Skeete added three points. Junior Raheem Johnson added two points, three offensive rebounds and three blocks. Will Regan added one point, four rebounds, including three on the offensive end, and two assists.
The Bulls tied a season-low with six turnovers, while recording a season-high 24 offensive rebounds. UB also turned 15 Akron turnovers into 17 points, outscoring the Zips 17-3 on points off turnovers.
Akron fell to 17-11 and 8-7 on the year. The Zips were led by Pat Forsythe, who finished with 19 points and eight rebounds.
UB will hit the road for one final time during the regular season on Saturday evening as it faces Kent State. The game is set for 7:00 pm and will air on Time Warner Cable Sports Channel and ESPN3.
