Thursday, March 11
Cleveland, OH / Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
4:00 pm
15-7,12-5MAC
74
vs
63
Miami (OH)
12-11,9-8MAC
1
2
F
Miami (OH)
32
31
63
Buffalo
40
34
74
Bulls Lead Wire-to-Wire in Quarterfinal Win over Miami (OH)
3/11/2021 7:11:00 PM | Men's Basketball
CLEVELAND, OH – The University at Buffalo men's basketball never trailed in a 74-63 win over Miami (OH) in the quarterfinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament at Cleveland's Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Thursday.
The Bulls knocked down a season-high 12 three-pointers in the game, shooting 60 percent from beyond the arc. Ronaldo Segu tied a career high with five three-pointers and Jeenathan Williams also connected on a career-best five triples. Both players were 5-of-6 from deep. Segu finished with 16 points and Williams had 20.
While the Bulls were successful from the perimeter, Josh Mballa was a force in the paint. The junior forward had 23 points and 19 rebounds, both game highs. The MAC Defensive Player of the Year added two steals and a block in the game.
After leading, 40-32, at the half, the Bulls were able to build their lead to 53-40 with 11:16 left in the game. However, the RedHawks fought back and cut the UB advantage to 59-58 with 4:45 on the clock. Segu answered with his fifth three of the game to extend the Buffalo lead to four. It sparked a 7-0 scoring run that put the Bulls ahead, 66-58, with 3:16 left.
The dagger came courtesy of Williams whose fifth three of the game put the Bulls ahead, 71-60, with 1:10 left.
"It was a hard-fought game and give Miami credit," head coach Jim Whitesell said. "Every time it looked like we could extend the lead, they made a big play. We knew we were going to be in for a tough one. I liked our guy's resiliency."
Graves was the fourth Bull to reach double-digits in the scoring column. The senior guard finished with 16 points, including 8-of-9 from the free throw line.
Buffalo shot 44 percent from the field for the game and had 16 assists on 23 made baskets.
The Bulls will play the winner of the Akron/Bowling Green game in the semifinals on Friday night.
The Bulls knocked down a season-high 12 three-pointers in the game, shooting 60 percent from beyond the arc. Ronaldo Segu tied a career high with five three-pointers and Jeenathan Williams also connected on a career-best five triples. Both players were 5-of-6 from deep. Segu finished with 16 points and Williams had 20.
While the Bulls were successful from the perimeter, Josh Mballa was a force in the paint. The junior forward had 23 points and 19 rebounds, both game highs. The MAC Defensive Player of the Year added two steals and a block in the game.
After leading, 40-32, at the half, the Bulls were able to build their lead to 53-40 with 11:16 left in the game. However, the RedHawks fought back and cut the UB advantage to 59-58 with 4:45 on the clock. Segu answered with his fifth three of the game to extend the Buffalo lead to four. It sparked a 7-0 scoring run that put the Bulls ahead, 66-58, with 3:16 left.
The dagger came courtesy of Williams whose fifth three of the game put the Bulls ahead, 71-60, with 1:10 left.
"It was a hard-fought game and give Miami credit," head coach Jim Whitesell said. "Every time it looked like we could extend the lead, they made a big play. We knew we were going to be in for a tough one. I liked our guy's resiliency."
Graves was the fourth Bull to reach double-digits in the scoring column. The senior guard finished with 16 points, including 8-of-9 from the free throw line.
Buffalo shot 44 percent from the field for the game and had 16 assists on 23 made baskets.
The Bulls will play the winner of the Akron/Bowling Green game in the semifinals on Friday night.
Team Stats
Miami
UB
FG%
.397
.442
3FG%
.316
.600
FT%
1.000
.667
RB
31
39
TO
8
15
STL
5
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
23
FGM
8
3FGM
1
FTM
6
Pts
20
FGM
7
3FGM
5
FTM
1
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
5
FTM
1
Pts
13
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
8
Players Mentioned
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