Grant’s Three Leads Bulls To 77-74 Win At Akron

Tuesday, January 28

Akron, OH

7 pm

14-7,5-3MAC

Akron

16-5,6-2MAC

Buffalo

Akron

Grant’s Three Leads Bulls To 77-74 Win At Akron

1/28/2020 10:21:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

BUFFALO, NY – Senior Gabe Grant knocked down a triple with just 6.1 seconds left on Tuesday night to lead the Bulls to a 77-74 win at Akron, handing the Zips just their second conference loss of the season. The Bulls improved to 14-7 overall and 5-3 in Mid-American Conference play.

UB put forth one of its best defensive efforts of the year, holding an Akron team that shot 40% from three on the season to just 26.7% from behind the arc. The Bulls also dominated the glass, holding a 52-31 edge on the glass, led by sophomore Josh Mballa, who came off the bench for the first time this season and responded with 13 points and a career-high 17 rebounds. The 17 boards are the most by a UB player since Justin Moss had 17 against Ohio on March 3, 2015.

The Bulls led for nearly the entire game but couldn't quite pull away from an Akron team that suffered just its second home loss of the year. UB got out to a quick start, scoring the first eight points of the night. Akron would go on to take its first lead at 11-10 with 9:43 left, but senior Davonta Jordan answered with a three to ignite a 7-0 run.

A fast-break dunk from Grant on a perfect pass from senior Antwain Johnson gave the Bulls their largest lead of the game at 28-15 with 4:00 left, but the Zips were able to cut it to eight before the break as UB took a 33-25 lead into the break.

The Zips cut it to three early in the second half before the Bulls would score seven straight to go ahead by 10. Akron again cut it to one, but Jordan answered with another three. UB was able to build its lead back up to eight, but the Zips kept fighting back, knocking the Buffalo lead to one with 8:56 left.

Akron pulled within three multiple times before a pair of free throws from Mballa extended the lead back to seven with 1:46 left. However, a pair of buckets from Akron cut the UB lead to just three and on the ensuing Akron possession, Loren Cristian Jackson was able to draw a foul on a three-point attempt and he hit all three, tying the game up with just 22 seconds left.

The Bulls would have the final possession of regulation if they wanted it, but Jordan found Grant wide open and the Chicago, IL native cashed in with his first three of the night, putting the Bulls ahead with just six seconds left. Akron's final attempt was no good as the Bulls came away with their sixth straight win over Akron and their third straight at Rhodes Arena.

"I can't say enough about the way our guys fought tonight against one of the top shooting teams in the country," said head coach Jim Whitesell. "We just stuck with the game plan even when things weren't falling offensively and if you just stay with it, good things will happen. We are very excited to get home and welcome our students back Friday night."

Johnson led the Bulls with 18 points, going a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line. He also added four rebounds and four assists. Mballa went 7-of-8 from the free throw line in his 13-point effort, while grabbing 17 boards, six of those coming on the offensive end.

Junior Jayvon Graves, playing close to his hometown of Malvern, OH, had 13 points, while Jordan added 11 points, five boards, and four assists.

Junior Brock Bertram picked up his second career start and had two points, four rebounds, and a blocked shot. Grant and sophomore Ronaldo Segu each had five points off the bench.

Both squads shot the ball extremely well from the free throw line as the Bulls went 21-of-24, while Akron went 20-of-22.

Buffalo, now winners of five of the last six games, return home on Friday night when the Bulls host Bowling Green in a rematch of the 2019 MAC Championship Game. The game will tip off at 7pm and air nationally on ESPNU.