Bulls Rally Over Final Two Minutes For Thrilling Victory In Charleston Classic

Friday, November 22

Charleston, SC

7 pm

3-2

Towson

2-4

Towson

Buffalo

Bulls Rally Over Final Two Minutes For Thrilling Victory In Charleston Classic

11/22/2019 10:49:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

CHARLESTON, SC – The University at Buffalo men's basketball team used a 14-4 run over the final two minutes of action Friday night as the Bulls erased a late seven-point deficit in a 76-73 win over Towson in the second game of the Charleston Classic. The victory improves UB's record to 3-2 on the year.

While the Bulls struggled offensively, they turned it on defensively, forcing Towson into 22 turnovers, including four in the final two minutes of the game.

For the first time since their MAC Tournament victory over Arizona State, the Bulls had two different players with double-doubles in the same game as sophomore Josh Mballa had 13 points and 11 rebounds and Davonta Jordan finished with 10 points and 10 assists.

Buffalo trailed by nine in the first half, but a pair of threes from junior Jayvon Graves tied the contest up at 21-21. A three from sophomore Ronaldo Segu gave the Bulls a 31-26 lead with 4:47 left in the first, but Towson regained the lead until Graves hit a three with just 11 seconds left as the teams went into the half tied at 34-34.

The two teams remained tied in the second half with 6:37 left when Towson went on a 12-5 run to go up 69-62 with 2:02 left. However, the Bulls turned to a little full-court pressure and it made all the difference.

The Bulls began with a dunk from Mballa and then they forced Towson turnovers on back-to-back possessions as a tip-in from Graves made it a one-point game. The Tigers went back up 71-68 before UB went on an 8-0 run to put the game away.

The go ahead basket came on a put back from Mballa with 23 seconds left and Graves then hit a pair of free throws with just seven seconds remaining. Segu would ice the game with a pair from the charity stripe with two seconds left.

"Our guys never stopped competing and that is what I love about this group," said head coach Jim Whitesell. "I thought the press at the end of the game bothered them and we were able to turn it into points. Towson is a really good team and this is a really good win for our program."

Graves led the Bulls with 25 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Mballa finished with 13 and 11, including seven offensive rebounds, while Segu had 11 points off the bench.

Jordan had 10 points and 10 assists, seven of those coming in the first half. Sophomore Jeenathan Williams had seven points and five boards and redshirt freshman LaQuill Hardnett had six points.

The Bulls outrebounded Towson 44-42 and the 22 turnovers were the most by a UB opponent this season. Buffalo opponents have turned it over at least 16 times in all five games this year.

UB will have a day off in the Lowcountry before concluding action in the Charleston Classic on Sunday in the fifth place game against Missouri State. That game will tip off at 3:30 pm on ESPNU.