18-14
(11) Miami (OH)
13-20
Hot-Shooting Bulls Down Miami in MAC Quarterfinals
3/10/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
CLEVELAND, OH – The University at Buffalo men's basketball team scored 94 points against a stingy Miami (OH) defense to win a quarterfinal matchup over the RedHawks, 94-81, at Quicken Loans Arena on Thursday night. Five Bulls scored in double-figures to help UB advance to the semifinals for the second straight year.
Willie Conner led all scorers with 25 points, including a career-high six three-pointers. As a team, Buffalo tied a season high with 11 three-pointers in the game. Jarryn Skeete added a trio of triples en route to 13 points.
Just nine days after Miami handed the Bulls a frustrated 67-59 defeat at Alumni Arena on senior night, UB responded with a more aggressive game plan that attacked the RedHawks' matchup zone.
"I thought our effort was good," head coach Nate Oats said. "I thought we did a lot better job attacking their zones. They started switching zones, and they switched the defenses up. I thought we as a staff probably did a lot better job preparing them for it this time, and they did a lot better job. And it certainly helps to make some shots. When you hit 11 3s against the zone, it kind of opens it up a little bit."
Blake Hamilton had an off night shooting the ball, but made up for it in other areas. The junior swingman nearly recorded a triple-double finishing with 11 points, a career-high 16 rebounds and seven assists.
Lamonte Bearden added 14 points and C.J. Massinburg scored 10 points to round out Bulls scoring in double-figures.
Miami held a brief 4-3 lead, but a 12-2 scoring run, capped by an Ikenna Smart dunk, put the Bulls ahead, 15-6, and they never looked back. Buffalo led 37-31 at the half.
Conner hit back-to-back three-pointers and Bearden added a third to ignite a fast start to the second half – quickly giving the Bulls a 12-point lead. Buffalo scored 57 points in the second half and Miami would get no closer than seven points the rest of the way.
"Willie came out, shot it well, Blake was moving the ball," Oats said. "We got it to Blake in the middle of the zone and got six assists early in the game which helped kind of open that thing up. They shot it pretty well, too. They hung in there. It was a little bit different than their game with Ball State. They kind of play that way, too, like they'll score a bunch of points, then they'll keep it low scoring one game. Just have to figure out a way to beat them. I thought our guys did a pretty good job of that tonight."
The Bulls also played well defensively, holding Miami to just 37 percent shooting from the floor. Buffalo outrebounded the RedHawks, 47-35. Massinburg tied a career-high with seven rebounds for the Bulls.
Buffalo will next play Ohio in the semifinals tomorrow night. The Bobcats won both meetings in the regular season. Tipoff is scheduled for 9 pm.
