Akron Pulls Away Late From Buffalo

Saturday, February 29

Buffalo, NY

2 pm

18-11,9-7MAC

Akron

22-7,12-4MAC

Akron

Buffalo

2/29/2020 5:28:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

BUFFALO, NY – The visiting Akron Zips outscored the University at Buffalo men's basketball team 13-2 over the final five and a half minutes as the Zips handed the Bulls their second straight defeat, 86-73.

The Bulls got off to a quick start on Saturday afternoon, scoring the first eight points of the ball game, but UB was outscored 49-35 in the second half as Buffalo was able to shoot just 1-of-14 from three over the final 20 minutes.

Buffalo ended up opening the game on a 13-4 run as a three-pointer from sophomore Jeenathan Williams gave UB the nine-point lead, which would wind up being its largest of the day. Akron would come back to tie the game at 20-20, but the Bulls answered with a 9-1 run, capped off on a layup from Davonta Jordan, giving UB a 29-21 advantage. The Zips again fought back and took their first lead of the night at 33-32, but Buffalo again went ahead on a Williams three with 52 seconds left. UB would go on to take a 38-37 lead into the break.

A 10-3 run for Akron out of the half put the Zips up by six, but a three-pointer from senior Antwain Johnson tied the game back up. Another five-point lead for Akron was quickly erased as sophomore Ronaldo Segu rattled off five straight, tying the game at 62-62 with 9:32 remaining.

The two East rivals remained tied at 69-69 with 6:09 remaining, but Akron scored four straight from the free throw line and the Zips would never trail again. UB went scoreless over the final 2:46 as Akron scored the final eight points of the game.

Williams led the Bulls with 18 points and nine rebounds doing most of his damage in the first half where he had 16 points and seven boards. Johnson added 12 points, while junior Jayvon Graves had 11 points, five boards, four assists, and three blocked shots.

Jordan finished the evening with nine points and eight assists as he went over 500 assists for his Buffalo career. Segu also added nine points as did sophomore Josh Mballa, who chipped in seven rebounds.

Buffalo was outrebounded for the second straight game as the Zips held a 49-37 advantage on the glass.

Akron's Loren Cristian Jackson led all players with 35 points.

Tuesday night will mark Buffalo's final regular season home game and it will be Senior Night for six UB players. Prior to the game Patrick Moore, Jamon Bivens, Giambattista Davis, Gabe Grant, Antwain Johnson, and Davonta Jordan will all be honored. Tip off is at 7pm, but senior night festivities will get underway at approximately 6:45.