Bulls Host Miami (OH) For Senior Night Affair
2/29/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Buffalo (16-13, 9-7 MAC) vs. Miami (OH) (11-18, 5-11 MAC)
March 1, 2016
Alumni Arena - 7:00 pm
Radio - Radio in Buffalo - 1520-AM WWKB
Television - ESPN3
The Opening Tip...
• The Bulls return to Alumni Arena for one final time during the regular season on Tuesday night when UB hosts Miami (OH). The Bulls are currently in fourth place in the MAC Standings, looking to secure one of the four byes into the quarterfinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament.
• The Bulls are coming off a 103-96 overtime loss at Ohio on Saturday, which snapped a two-game winning streak for the UB. Miami (OH) enters Tuesday night winners of two straight, having knocked off Akron and Kent State, both at home.
• Prior to Tuesday night's game, the Bulls will be honoring their two seniors, both hailing from North of the Border. Rodell Wigginton is a native of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and he is completing his second season with the Bulls after transferring from the College of Central Florida. Fellow senior Jarryn Skeete hails from Brompton, Ontario and he is the only four-year member of the UB men's basketball team.
• The Bulls have won the last six games from Miami (OH) including a 77-60 victory earlier this season in Oxford. Junior Blake Hamilton led the Bulls in that game with 22 points.
The Opponent
• Miami (OH) is 11-18 on the season and 5-11 in conference play, but the RedHawks are coming off their two best wins of the season with back-to-back home victories over Akron and Kent State. Miami (OH) is currently in three-way tie for 10th place in the league entering Tuesday.
• The RedHawks are led by senior guard Eric Washington, who is averaging 13.9 points per game and a team-high 109 assists. Geovonie McKnight is second on the team at 12.9 points per game and he leads in the rebounding department at 3.9 per game. Those are the only two Miami players that are averaging in double figures. Miami has had 14 different players start at least one game this season.
• Miami (OH) had lost 14 of its last 17 games before its current two-game winning streak. Of Miami's 11 wins this season, four of those have been part of two-game winning streaks. The RedHawks have not won three in a row this year.
Much At Stake As MAC Tournament Looms
The Bulls enter the final weekend of play with a 9-7 record, which currently puts them in a three-way tie for fourth place with Central Michigan and Kent State. UB has the tiebreaker as they are a perfect 3-0 amongst the tied teams and the Bulls currently hold on to the final bye if the season ended today.
The Bulls can assure themselves of no worse than the fourth seed by winning their final two games and they can move as high as third should they find themselves tied with Ball State at the end of the year.
UB is just one game out of second place and still has a long-shot chance to finish in a log-jam for first, but the Bulls do not hold tiebreakers with either Akron or Ohio. Of teams that are within striking distance, Buffalo holds head-to-head tiebreakers with Ball State, Central Michigan, Kent State, and Northern Illinois. UB and Toledo split its season series.
Brother, Can You Spare Me A Dime?
The Bulls had a season-high 21 assists in the win over Delaware and for the first time this season had three players record at least five assists in the same game as Willie Conner finished with six assists, while Lamonte Bearden and CJ Massinburg each finished with five assists. It was the first time since Jan. 27 of last year against Western Michigan that UB had three players with at least five assists in the same game.
The Bulls had 19 assists in the win over Central Michigan, led by senior Jarryn Skeete, who had a career-high 12 dimes. The 12 assists were tied for 10th most in a single game in school history and the most by a UB player since John Boyer had 12 against Towson on Nov. 21, 2009. The 12 assists are also tied for 17th nationally for individual assists in a game. In the win over Ball State, Bearden and Skeete each finished with six assists marking the first time this season that the Bulls had two players with six or more assists in the same game. Bearden dished out seven assists in the win over Northern Illinois, while Massinburg tied his career high with five dimes. Junior Blake Hamilton had his second eight-assist performance of the season against Toledo. He also accomplished it earlier in the year against Binghamton. The Bulls also recorded 19 assists in the win over Kent State, including eight from Bearden, the second time this season he has had eight dimes over the Golden Flashes.
That's Fresh!
Freshman CJ Massinburg scored a career-high 36 points on Friday against Ohio, the most by a UB player this season and the most points ever scored in a game by a UB freshman. The 36 points from Massinburg are also tied for 10th most in a single game in school history and the most since Will Regan had 36 points against Ball State in the 2013 MAC Tournament. Massinburg now has the seventh highest scoring performance by a freshman in the country this season and it is the second highest scoring performance in the MAC this year. Massinburg followed it up with a game-high 21 points at Akron on Tuesday night. Massinburg had 15 points against BG and 21 more against Kent State. He has now recorded 101 points over the last five games, the most ever in a four-game stretch for a UB freshman. His 335 points this season are the second most by a UB player.
Kent Hardly Wait
With UB's 87-70 win over Kent State on Tuesday night, the Bulls have now beaten the Golden Flashes six straight times. They are the first MAC team to defeat Kent State six straight times since Miami (OH) won eight in a row from 1994-97. The Bulls, who had never won at Kent State prior to the 2013-14 season, have now won three straight at the M.A.C. Center, becoming the first MAC team to do that since Miami (OH) between 1995-97. Four MAC teams have never won three straight at Kent State.
It's The Freaken Weekend Baby, I'm About To Have Me Some Fun
The Bulls have been extremely successful this season when playing weekend contests as UB is 9-3 when games are played on Saturday's or Sunday's with its only three weekend losses coming in Cameron Indoor Stadium against Duke and at Western Michigan and at Ohio. When you add in Friday night games, which is the start of any good weekend, UB's record is 11-4.
The Pine Is Fine
The UB bench outscored Pitt-Bradford, 67-8, in the opener as three players reached double figures off the bench, including 20-point performances from Wigginton and Hamilton. The bench outscored the starting five in the game. UB got a strong contribution off the bench in the exhibition game as well as the Bulls outscored Daemen, 54-14, in bench points led by 25 points from Massinburg. The UB bench outscored its starters against St. Joseph's as it finished with 43 of the team's 67 points. The bench shined again against Canisius as it finished with 48 of the team's 98 points. The bench had it's second highest output this year against Ohio, scoring 51 of the team's 75 points. UB added 49 bench points in the win over Kent State, with 47 of those coming from UB freshmen or redshirt freshmen. This season, the bench has 868 of the team's 2245 points (38.7%). Last year, the UB bench scored 479 points all season.
Alright Hamilton
Junior college transfer Blake Hamilton scored 21 points and had seven rebounds in the win over Pitt-Bradford, going 7-of-11 from the floor and 3-of-5 from three-point range. Hamilton added nine points and five rebounds against Old Dominion. Hamilton led the Bulls with 14 points and seven rebounds against St. Joseph's. Hamilton added 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals in the win over Vermont. He had another 14-point game against Canisius, while adding seven rebounds. Hamilton flirted with a triple-double in the win over Binghamton as he had eight points, nine rebounds, and eight assists. The eight dimes are the most by a UB player this season. Hamilton had 17 points and seven rebounds in the win over Montana St. After missing the Delaware game due to a concussion, Hamilton came back and scored 15 points against Akron, while adding four rebounds and three assists. Hamilton had his first career double-double against Eastern Michigan with 16 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. Hamilton just missed his second straight double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds against Central Michigan. Hamilton again flirted with a double-double at Miami (OH) as he led the Bulls with 22 points and nine rebounds. He also added four assists and four steals. Hamilton had his fourth straight game in double figures and at least eight rebounds with 14 points and nine boards against Ball State.
Hamilton had 17 points in the win at Toledo as he hit three 3-pointers in the first three minutes of the game. Hamilton added 14 points, nine rebounds and four assists in the win over Eastern Michigan and 10 points and eight assists against Toledo. Hamilton led the Bulls to victory with a career-high 24 points against Bowling Green, while adding seven rebounds, two assists and four steals. He scored 22 points and added 11 rebounds at Ohio on Saturday and he is second in scoring for UB in MAC games at 13.8 points per contest.
No Sophomore Slump
Sophomore Lamonte Bearden looks to continue his strong freshman season in 2015-16 after being named to the All-MAC Freshman Team just a year ago. Bearden, who was one of five players named to the Preseason All-MAC East Division squad, led the MAC in assist to turnover ratio last season in conference games. Bearden had at least six assists 10 times last season, including a career-high 10 assists against Cornell, the first UB freshman to have double figures in assists since 2012-13.
Bearden also showed his ability as a scorer last season, averaging 8.3 points per game. The Milwaukee, WI native had a career-high 23 points against Big 4 rival Canisius. Bearden hit the game-winning shot in the regular season finale last season against Bowling Green, giving the Bulls a share of the regular season MAC Title and their second straight East Division crown.
Bearden tied his career high with eight free throws against St. Joseph's as he finished with 13 points against the Hawks. He added eight more free throws against North Carolina A&T and finished with 16 points. For the second time in his career, Bearden hit the 20-point threshold as he had 20 in the win over Vermont, going 6-of-14 from the floor and 7-8 from the free throw line. Bearden had 18 points, five assists and four steals in the victory over Canisius after setting a career high in scoring against the Griffs as a freshman. In his two career games against the cross-town rival, Bearden is averaging 20.5 points, 4.5 assists and 3.0 steals per game. Bearden had 14 points, four assists and four steals in the win over Binghamton, including a circus-shot layup that made ESPN Sportscenter Top Plays. Bearden led the Bulls with 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists in the win over Montana St. It was the second time this season that Bearden recorded zero turnovers in a game and the fifth time in his career.
Bearden led the Bulls with 21 points, eight assists and five steals in the win over Kent State. He was nearly perfect from the field going 7-for-8 in the win. Bearden missed the Central Michigan and Miami (OH) games with a foot injury, but returned to the lineup against Western Michigan. He rejoined the starting lineup against Ball State and had 18 points, six assists and four steals. Bearden tied his career high with 23 points in the win over Northern Illinois, while adding seven assists and seven rebounds. Bearden returned to the lineup against Bowling Green after missing the previous three games and he had 16 points and a game-high six assists. Bearden added 11 points and eight assists in the win over Kent State.
Con-Air
Junior Willie Conner joins the Bulls this season after playing last year at Odessa Community College, where he averaged 18.0 points per game. Conner, who played his freshman season at Florida A&M, is a knock down shooter as he hit 43% of his attempts from behind the arc last season.
A Chicago, IL native, Conner played his High School ball at Richard T. Crane High School, averaging 20.0 points. Conner started in the exhibition game and recorded 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the floor. He had 10 points and four steals in the win over Pitt-Bradford. Conner added 10 points against St. Joseph's and 10 more vs. North Carolina A&T. He had a career-high 14 points in the win over Vermont, hitting a couple of three pointers, while also going 4-of-6 from the line. Conner had hist best game as a Bull against Delaware as he finished with 23 points on 7-of-11 shooting, while also dishing out a career-best six assists. Conner added 16 points and a career-high seven rebounds in the MAC opener against Akron. Conner had a game-high 22 points, including going 10-of-11 from the free throw line in the win over Kent State. Conner recorded a new career high with 28 points on Saturday against Ohio as he went 11-of-17 from the field and hit three triples in the contest.
Skeete Shooter
Senior Jarryn Skeete begins his fourth season in the Blue and White, the only four-year member of the Bulls. Skeete will be playing under his third head coach in four seasons. Skeete leads all active players on the Bulls in points (872), rebounds (385) and assists (239).
Skeete led the Bulls in scoring against Old Dominion, finishing with 12 points. He had a career-high six three pointers against North Carolina A&T, including five in the second half. It was the most threes in a game this season by a UB player. Skeete had one of his biggest three pointers against Canisius when he drained a shot while falling out of bounds, which sent the game into overtime. Skeete hit 3 three-pointers in the second half at Iowa State, helping the Bulls pull within one of the #4 team in the country with 13 minutes to play.
For the first time in his career, Skeete hit the 20-point mark as he had 20 points against Delaware, including five three-pointers. Skeete had 14 of his 20 points in the second half of the game.
Skeete had his second career double-double with 13 points and a career-high 12 assists in the win over Central Michigan. It was the first time that Skeete had recorded a double-double since his freshman season when he played point guard for the majority of the second half of the year.
David Is Goliath
UB's third junior college transfer on this year's team is David Kadiri, who played at South Plains Community College after spending his freshman year at Maryland-Baltimore County. Kadiri helped lead his junior college to an appearance in the JUCO national championship, recording 13 points, 14 rebounds and eight blocked shots in the championship game. Kadiri recorded eight points, while adding five rebounds and three more blocks against Montana St. He had a career-best 13 points in 14 minutes at Eastern Michigan. Kadiri added 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting at Miami (OH). He tied his career-high with three blocked shots against Toledo. Kadiri picked up his second career start against Bowling Green, but was limited due to foul trouble. Kadiri has started the last three games for the Bulls
In the Nick of Time
Freshman Nick Perkins went 22-3 during his senior season at Milan, averaging 18.0 points and 10.0 rebounds. He was a 1,000 point scorer in high school and a four-time All-State selection. Perkins had 12 points in the season opener and added nine points and five rebounds against Vermont. Perkins finished with a 15 points in the win over Canisius, including the game-winning dunk in overtime. In his homecoming at Eastern Michigan, Perkins had a career-high 13 rebounds. Perkins had 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting at Western Michigan. Perkins added 14 points and seven rebounds in the win at Northern Illinois. Perkins had a career-high 17 points against Toledo on Feb. 9, hitting three shots from behind the arc.
Get Smart
Redshirt freshman Ikenna Smart will look to make an impact on the floor this season, after redshirting last year. Smart has tremendous potential, but has only been playing basketball for three years. Smart is a native of Nigeria and was originally a soccer player before he was taught basketball in his native country.
Smart was then brought to the United States, ending up in Greensboro, NC where he played his high school basketball at the New Garden Friends School, where he averaged 13 points and 13 rebounds a game. Smart started in the exhibition game against Daemen and led all players with 11 rebounds. Smart had six points and four rebounds against St. Joseph's. He had a career-high nine rebounds against St. Bonaventure. Smart tied that career high by pulling down nine rebounds at Duke, including four on the offensive end, which led all players. Smart had his best game in the MAC opener against Akron as he finished with nine points on 4-of-6 shooting. Smart tied his career-high with nine points, while adding seven rebounds and three blocked shots against Central Michigan. Smart had a career-high 10 rebounds in the win at Miami (OH). He had a career-high 11 points in the win over Kent State, going 3-of-4 from the field and 5-of-6 from the free throw line.
Eagle Eye
Head coach Nate Oats spent 11 years as the head coach at Romulus High School and he now coaches two of his high school players on this year's team. Senior Raheem Johnson and sophomore Christian Pino both played for Coach Oats at Romulus as did the 2014-15 MAC Player of the Year, Justin Moss. Oats and Romulus won a state title in 2012-13, finishing the year 27-1.
Other current Division-I players that Coach Oats mentored at Romulus High School include: E.C. Matthews (Rhode Island), Wes Clark (Missouri), Jaylin Walker (Kent State), Raven Lee (Eastern Michigan).
Home Sweet Home
Since the beginning of the 2013-14 season, which included two years of Nate Oats as assistant coach, the Bulls have been really good at home, winning 34 of the last 41 games. Since the start of the 2010-11 season, the Bulls are 70-19 in Alumni Arena and going back even further, the Bulls are 135-49 at home since the 2003-04 season.
