Bulls Dominate In Exhibition Opener

Thursday, November 4

Buffalo, NY

7:30 pm

0-0,0-0MAC

105

Medaille College (Exhibition)

0-0,0-0AMCC

Medaille

Buffalo

105

11/4/2021 10:41:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo men's basketball team led wire-to-wire on Thursday night as the Bulls came away with a 105-54 win in its exhibition opener against Medaille. The Bulls scored 61 points in the opening half as all 14 healthy players took the court for UB.

The Bulls opened the game on a 13-4 run as four different players scored points in the run. UB led 19-9 before Medaille made its lone charge of the night, a 9-0 run, which pulled the game within 19-18. However, from there it was all Bulls for the remainder of the evening.

A second chance layup from Josh Mballa ignited a 10-0 run to put the Bulls back ahead 29-18. In all, it became a 25-6 run, as Buffalo extended the lead to 44-24.

Buffalo ended up closing out the first half on a 10-2 run over the last 2:12, which included four points each from newcomers Curtis Jones and Ty Perry. The Bulls went on to take a 61-30 lead into the break as the Bulls shot 52.8% in the opening half.

In the second half, the Bulls led 78-48 with 13:05 left when UB went on a 15-0 run, putting the exclamation mark on the victory. A layup from Jones put the Bulls ahead 93-48. However, Buffalo wasn't done yet as there was still one more highlight reel play to be had. Freshman Kuluel Mading flew in from the paint and followed up a miss with a thunderous putback slam. The Bulls would go on to lead by as many as 52 points with a late dunk from freshman Kidtrell Blocker.

"I was pleased with the effort and that we were able to get a lot of guys in there without anyone playing heavy minutes," said head coach Jim Whitesell. "We saw a lot of positives out there, but at the same time we saw a few things we will need to clean up as we get ready for Michigan."

Mballa and fellow senior Jeenathan Williams led all scorers with 19 points, while Williams added four assists in just 20 minutes played. Perry had 13 points, including a perfect 5-of-5 from the free throw line. Also scoring in double figures was senior Keishawn Brewton, who had 10 points.

13 players found the scoring column for the Bulls, including David Skogman, who had seven points and 10 rebounds. He tied for team high honors in boards with Brock Bertram, who added four points.

Ronaldo Segu had six points and five assists, while Maceo Jack added five points and four boards in his Buffalo debut as he picked up the start.

Jones, Blocker, and senior Jamon Bivens each finished with six points as Jones added five assists. Mading had two points on the dunk, to go along with six boards and four blocked shots.

Graduate student Tra'von Fagan had two points and nine boards, including five on the offensive end. Junior Lucas Saleh added two rebounds in the win.

The Bulls were relentless on the glass as UB outrebounded Medaille, 69-32. The Bulls forced Medaille into 18 turnovers and just 28.6% shooting from the floor.

UB opens the regular season next Wednesday when the Bulls head to nationally ranked Michigan. Tip off is at 6:30 pm and it will air nationally on Big Ten Network.