
Jordan’s Career Night Powers Bulls To 82-73 Win Over Canisius
12/18/2019 10:58:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – Senior Davonta Jordan scored a career high 26 points as the Bulls held on to defeat Big 4 rival Canisius on Wednesday night, 82-73. The Bulls improved to 7-4 with the victory.
The visiting Griffs raced out to an 8-2 lead as Scott Hitchon had a big night for Canisius, scoring 17 of its first 20 points. Four quick points for Buffalo pulled the Bulls within two but then neither team scored for two minutes prior to a Golden Griffin free throw. It was another minute of no scoring, but then the Bulls got hot, scoring 14 straight points to take a 20-9 lead. The run was capped off by Jordan, who picked up a steal and converted on the fast-break layup, converting the old-fashioned three-point play.
Canisius cut the lead to 26-22 before the Bulls went on a 10-4 run as a three from Jordan put the Bulls ahead 36-26. A layup from junior David Nickelberry right before the break gave the Bulls a 40-29 lead into the half.
The Bulls lead 47-38 when a three-pointer from sophomore Ronaldo Segu ignited a quick 7-0 run, giving the Bulls their largest lead of the night at 54-38. UB held multiple leads of 16 points, but were unable to extend it past that number.
Buffalo continued to lead 70-55 with 7:27 left when the visiting Griffs made a late run. An 18-5 run for Canisius pulled them within a single possession with 1:45 left as they trailed just 75-73. However, it would be the final points for Canisius as the Bulls closed the game out strong.
Jordan converted on a tough jumper with 1:20 left and following a missed Canisius shot, sophomore Jeenathan Williams knocked down one of the biggest shots of his young career, a triple with just 39 seconds remaining. Two late free throws from Segu gave the Bulls the nine-point win.
"A hard fought game," said head coach Jim Whitesell. "I thought at times were really good defensively, but we had some gaps. Give Canisius credit they came back and bothered us with a few different looks, but these games are always played that way between two local rivals."
Jordan led four players in double figures with his career-best 26 points as he also tied a career-high with nine rebounds. Jordan was 11-of-17 from the floor and 3-for-7 from three. He added four assists and two steals.
Segu finished with 14 points, five rebounds, and two assists off the bench, while Williams had 12 points and four rebounds. The Rochester, NY native went 5-of-7 from the floor and 2-for-3 from three-point range.
The Bulls got great minutes from their two big men on the night as sophomore Josh Mballa had 11 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals and redshirt freshman LaQuill Hardnett had the best game of his young career as well. He finished with nine points and a career-high 11 rebounds, leading all players. Both Hardnett and Mballa had six offensive boards.
As a team, the Bulls finished with 50 rebounds, the second time in three games they have had 50 or more boards. They finished with 21 offensive boards, turning that into 18 second chance points. UB held a big advantage in the paint, 44-26.
The Bulls will play their second of three straight games against Big 4 competition when they host Niagara on Saturday at 2pm at Alumni Arena.
The visiting Griffs raced out to an 8-2 lead as Scott Hitchon had a big night for Canisius, scoring 17 of its first 20 points. Four quick points for Buffalo pulled the Bulls within two but then neither team scored for two minutes prior to a Golden Griffin free throw. It was another minute of no scoring, but then the Bulls got hot, scoring 14 straight points to take a 20-9 lead. The run was capped off by Jordan, who picked up a steal and converted on the fast-break layup, converting the old-fashioned three-point play.
Canisius cut the lead to 26-22 before the Bulls went on a 10-4 run as a three from Jordan put the Bulls ahead 36-26. A layup from junior David Nickelberry right before the break gave the Bulls a 40-29 lead into the half.
The Bulls lead 47-38 when a three-pointer from sophomore Ronaldo Segu ignited a quick 7-0 run, giving the Bulls their largest lead of the night at 54-38. UB held multiple leads of 16 points, but were unable to extend it past that number.
Buffalo continued to lead 70-55 with 7:27 left when the visiting Griffs made a late run. An 18-5 run for Canisius pulled them within a single possession with 1:45 left as they trailed just 75-73. However, it would be the final points for Canisius as the Bulls closed the game out strong.
Jordan converted on a tough jumper with 1:20 left and following a missed Canisius shot, sophomore Jeenathan Williams knocked down one of the biggest shots of his young career, a triple with just 39 seconds remaining. Two late free throws from Segu gave the Bulls the nine-point win.
"A hard fought game," said head coach Jim Whitesell. "I thought at times were really good defensively, but we had some gaps. Give Canisius credit they came back and bothered us with a few different looks, but these games are always played that way between two local rivals."
Jordan led four players in double figures with his career-best 26 points as he also tied a career-high with nine rebounds. Jordan was 11-of-17 from the floor and 3-for-7 from three. He added four assists and two steals.
Segu finished with 14 points, five rebounds, and two assists off the bench, while Williams had 12 points and four rebounds. The Rochester, NY native went 5-of-7 from the floor and 2-for-3 from three-point range.
The Bulls got great minutes from their two big men on the night as sophomore Josh Mballa had 11 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals and redshirt freshman LaQuill Hardnett had the best game of his young career as well. He finished with nine points and a career-high 11 rebounds, leading all players. Both Hardnett and Mballa had six offensive boards.
As a team, the Bulls finished with 50 rebounds, the second time in three games they have had 50 or more boards. They finished with 21 offensive boards, turning that into 18 second chance points. UB held a big advantage in the paint, 44-26.
The Bulls will play their second of three straight games against Big 4 competition when they host Niagara on Saturday at 2pm at Alumni Arena.
Team Stats
Canis
UB
FG%
.377
.493
3FG%
.348
.292
FT%
.704
.500
RB
33
50
TO
15
18
STL
8
8
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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