Six Bulls Score In Double Figures As UB Defeats Nazareth, 109-72

Monday, November 11

Buffalo, NY

7 pm

University at Buffalo

1-1,0-0MAC

109

Nazareth College

1-0,0-0Empire 8

Team	1	2	F
Nazareth	34	38	72
Buffalo	63	46	109

Six Bulls Score In Double Figures As UB Defeats Nazareth, 109-72

11/11/2019 10:24:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Postgame Press Conference - YouTube

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo men's basketball team scored the first victory of the Jim Whitesell era on Monday night as the Bulls dominated in a 109-72 victory over Nazareth. Buffalo had six players score in double figures as it evened its record at 1-1. The 109 points are tied for ninth in school history for points scored at home.

UB shot 56.3% from the floor and 51.6% from three point range as the Bulls went 16-of-31 from behind the arc, led by Ronaldo Segu and Gabe Grant, who combined to go 9-of-13.

The Golden Flyers actually built an early six point lead in the game as Nazareth led 8-2, but Buffalo answered with a quick 16-4 run to take the lead and never looked back. With the Bulls leading 36-27, UB went on a 13-0 run, capped off on a fast break layup from junior Jayvon Graves, giving the Bulls a 49-27 lead. A thunderous dunk from sophomore Josh Mballa with just seven seconds left put the Bulls ahead 63-34 as the teams headed into the half.

Segu hit a pair of early triples in the second half, which extended the UB advantage to 79-38 and a triple by Grant gave the Bulls their largest lead of the night at 95-45 with 9:50 left. Buffalo hit the century mark on a dunk from Jeenathan Williams with 8:23 remaining. In all, 13 players saw action for the Bulls with 11 finding the scoring column.

"Give Nazareth credit because they hit some big shots early on, but I thought these two guys (Jayvon Graves and Ronaldo Segu) did a really nice job settling us down," said Whitesell. "We knew we had the advantage athletically and we did some good work there. We know we have to improve at the free throw line and there are some things we need to clean up but I was really happy with the way we responded this evening after Friday's performance."

Segu and Graves each finished with 17 points in the contest. For Segu, the 17 points are a new career high as he went 6-of-7 from the field and 5-of-6 from three-point range. The Orlando, FL native added six assists and UB was +45 on the scoreboard with him in the game.

Graves added five offensive rebounds, three assists and block. Mballa finished just shy of a double-double again with 14 points and nine rebounds, while three players finished with 12 points. Williams had 12 points, two assists, two rebounds, and two steals, while Antwain Johnson finished with 12 points and four boards. Grant also added 12 off the bench with five rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block.

Senior Davonta Jordan played just 14 minutes, but was extremely effective with eight points, four assists, four steals, and a block. Junior David Nickelberry made his regular season debut and had six points, five rebounds, and four assists.

Redshirt freshman LaQuill Hardnett and freshman Savion Gallion each scored their first career points as both finished with five. Gallion added three steals and a pair of rebounds.

Walk-ons Giambattista Davis, Jamon Bivens, and Patrick Moore all made their regular season debuts for the Bulls. After missing last year due to injury, Bivens scored his first career point on a free throw, while Davis had four rebounds, including three offensive boards.

The Bulls had 25 assists as a team to just nine turnovers, while they forced Nazareth into 19 turnovers, finishing with 16 steals. As a team, the Bulls made 16 three pointers which is tied for fourth most in a game.

Buffalo will return to action on Saturday as it heads north of the border to take part in the Naismith Hall of Fame Classic in Toronto, Ontario. The Bulls will face Harvard at 2:30 pm in the first of three games at the Scotiabank Arena.