Bulls Lead Wire To Wire In Rout Of Northern Illinois, 102-74

Tuesday, February 23

DeKalb, IL

5:00 pm/4:00 pm CT

10-7,8-5MAC

102

Northern Illinois

2-14,1-10MAC

Buffalo

102

Northern Ill.

Bulls Lead Wire To Wire In Rout Of Northern Illinois, 102-74

2/23/2021 7:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

DEKALB, IL – The University at Buffalo men's basketball team put up a season high in points as the Bulls led wire-to-wire in a 102-74 win at Northern Illinois. The victory improved the Bulls to 10-7 on the season and 8-5 in league play.

The game was never in doubt as the Bulls raced out to an 18-7 lead just four and a half minutes in on a three-point jumper from senior Jayvon Graves. The Bulls had back-to-back highlights midway through the opening half, the first coming from redshirt freshman David Skogman, who threw down a thunderous dunk and then David Nickelberry followed that up with another slam following a steal. That put the Bulls ahead 31-12.

Buffalo took its largest lead of the half on a layup from junior Ronaldo Segu at 47-23 and UB went on to take a 51-28 lead into the break. UB shot 54.1% from the floor over the first 20 minutes, including 9-of-11 from the free throw line.

The Huskies would cut the Buffalo lead to 18 and NIU was within 19 with 14:11 left when the Bulls scored six straight points as a layup from Nickelberry put the Bulls back ahead, 73-48. UB took its largest lead of the game when it hit the century mark. A three pointer from sophomore Lucas Saleh and a bucket from fellow sophomore Savion Gallion put UB ahead, 100-69, and the Bulls finished with the 102-74 win.

10 different UB player found the scoring column led by junior Josh Mballa, who had 21 points and 12 rebounds. Junior Jeenathan Williams finished with 18 points, while LaQuill Hardnett had a career high 16 points, going a perfect 5-of-5 from the floor, including hitting a triple for the second straight game.

Graves finished with 13 points and seven rebounds, while Segu had nine points, four assists, and three boards.

Skogman had eight points and seven boards, while Nickelberry had six points and four assists.

Saleh finished with a career high five points and Gallion added four points and an assist. Junior Tra'von Fagan finished with two points and two boards.

Senior Brock Bertram returned to the UB lineup and had four rebounds, including three offensive boards. Senior Jamon Bivens had a board and a steal.

The Bulls held a huge advantage on the glass, 55-25. UB had 20 offensive boards, which it turned into 22 points.

The 102 points scored are the fifth most in school history in a road game.

Buffalo returns home on Thursday afternoon when the Bulls host Central Michigan at 2pm.