Bulls Roll Past Rider In Home Opener, 87-65

Saturday, November 20

Buffalo, NY

2:00 pm

2-1,0-0MAC

Rider

2-3,0-0MAAC

Rider

Buffalo

Bulls Roll Past Rider In Home Opener, 87-65

11/20/2021 5:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo men's basketball team put forth a strong second half effort as the Bulls won their home opener on Saturday afternoon, 87-65. The game was a campus contest as part of the Cancun Challenge, which Buffalo will head to Mexico for the final two games.

Buffalo scored a season high 87 points, including 48 in the second half as the Bulls were 50% from behind the arc over the final 20 minutes of action.

The Broncs opened the game strong scoring seven of the first nine points. However, a quick 11-2 run from the Bulls put them ahead and they never looked back. Leading 21-18, the Bulls went on a 10-2 run, taking their biggest lead of the half at 31-20 with 3:51 left. The Bulls would go on to lead 39-33 at the break.

Leading 48-40 five minutes in, the Bulls extended their lead by using a 12-3 run as a second-chance layup from senior Keishawn Brewton put the Bulls ahead 60-43 with 12:18 left. UB had another big run as it took a 63-51 advantage and quickly turned in to a 28-point lead as the Bulls went on a 16-0 run, capped off by a pair of three pointers from sophomore David Skogman. A triple from junior Ty Perry gave the Bulls their largest lead of the afternoon at 87-58 and Buffalo would go on to win comfortably.

Senior Jeenathan Williams led all scorers with 19 points, adding seven rebounds and a pair of assists. Fellow senior Maceo Jack had 18 points, 13 of those coming after halftime. Brewton finished with a season-high 12 points.

Josh Mballa had eight points, seven boards and three steals, and Ronaldo Segu added nine points and five assists. Freshman Curtis Jones didn't score in the game, but had a career-best six assists, to go along with four boards, two steals, and a drawn charge.

Skogman finished with six points and Brock Bertram added four points and five boards. Perry had five points and Tra'von Fagan added three points. Both Perry and Fagan added four rebounds.

The Bulls had a commanding 52-38 advantage on the boards as the Bulls defense caused Rider to shoot just 31.0% in the second half.

"It was great to have fans back in the stand cheering us on," said head coach Jim Whitesell. "Give Rider credit, they kept us off balance in the first half a bit and defended well, but I am really happy with the way we moved the ball, especially in the second half."

The Bulls will continue action at the Cancun Challenge on Tuesday when they face Stephen F. Austin in the first of two games in Mexico. The contest will tip off at 6pm and air on CBS Sports Network.