Second Half Surge Leads Buffalo To 86-69 Win Over Ball State

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Second Half Surge Leads Buffalo To 86-69 Win Over Ball State

1/9/2021 8:17:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo men's basketball team, playing for the first time in three weeks, outscored the visiting Ball State Cardinals 53-38 in the second half as the Bulls came away with an 86-69 Mid-American Conference victory. The win improves UB to 4-3 on the season and 2-1 in conference action.

Junior Josh Mballa put forth a career night as he finished with 19 points, while setting career highs with 19 rebounds and six assists. He is the first Buffalo player to lead UB in all three categories in the same game since Jeremy Harris in 2018. The 19 rebounds in a game are the most by a Buffalo player since Javon McRea had 20 boards at Central Michigan on Feb. 8, 2014.

The first half of the game was a feeling out process for both team as the Bulls had not played since Dec. 19. The Cardinals never led by more than four points taking that advantage just two and a half minutes into the game. Ball State had an advantage as late as 1:51 left in the first half, but the Bulls scored the final four points of the half to take a 33-31 lead into the break.

The Cardinals scored the first bucket of the second half, but then the Bulls answered with seven straight points, which included a beautiful alley-oop from Mballa to Jeenathan Williams and then an old fashioned three-point play from Mballa, increasing the Buffalo lead to 40-32 just two minutes in.

Midway through the second half the Bulls got the three ball going as seven straight made field goals from Buffalo came from behind the arc, the first three courtesy of senior Keishawn Brewton. A three from Jayvon Graves extended the UB lead to 76-57 with 7:12 left. Buffalo took its largest lead of the game with 2:20 left when a Savion Gallion free throw put the Bulls ahead, 84-62, and UB went on to win by 17.

"I honestly didn't know what to expect in the first half with us not having played in three weeks and you definitely saw some rust there, but I thought we played hard, just didn't make very many shots," said Jim Whitesell. "Then in the second half we got our feet under us and I thought our shot selection was much better."

Mballa was one of five players in doubles figures as Graves finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals.

Williams had 16 points and six rebounds and Ronaldo Segu added 14 points and five assists. Brewton had 12 points off the bench.

Senior Brock Bertram had six points and four boards and sophomore LaQuill Hardnett finished with seven rebounds.

UB finished with 25 offensive rebounds, the first time they have had that many offensive boards since January 4, 2012 against Buffalo State. The strong game on the glass allowed UB to take 82 field goal attempts, their most in a game since 83 against Toledo on January 8, 2019.

The Bulls finished the night with a 53-39 advantage on the glass.

Buffalo returns to action on Tuesday when the Bulls travel to Western Michigan. Tip off is scheduled for 2pm.