Bulls Fall In Final Seconds Of NIT Opener

Friday, March 19

Denton, TX

7:00 pm/6:00 pm CT

16-9,12-5MAC

Colorado State

19-6,14-4Mountain West

Buffalo

Colorado St.

Bulls Fall In Final Seconds Of NIT Opener

3/19/2021 10:18:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

DENTON, TX – Colorado State's Isaiah Stevens broke a 73-73 tie with a driving layup with 1.2 seconds remaining as the University at Buffalo men's basketball team lost in the first round of the NIT to top-seeded Colorado State, 75-73.

The game was extremely even through out the entire 40 minutes with neither program leading by more than eight points. The Bulls and Rams had the same amount of three pointers and the same amount of free throws with CSU hitting one more bucket, the game winner.

Trailing 9-4 early, the Bulls went on a 12-2 run capped off on a three-point play from Jeenathan Williams to take a 16-11 lead. The Bulls continued to lead by five at 30-25 when Colorado State scored eight straight to regain the lead. A late dunk from Williams put the Bulls into the half up one, 34-33.

UB took its largest lead of the game early in the second half as thunderous dunk from Jayvon Graves put the Bulls ahead, 47-40 with 16:38 left. Buffalo led 50-44 when Colorado State went on a 15-1 run as the Rams took their largest lead of the night at 59-51 with 8:52 left.

However, UB responded scoring the next 12 points as UB went back ahead 62-59 with 5:53 remaining. For nearly the finally six minutes neither team played with more than a one possession lead. With the Rams leading by three, sophomore LaQuill Hardnett drained a three-pointer on a second chance opportunity, tying the game up at 73-73 with 14 seconds left, but the Rams were able to convert on the last opportunity and UB's last chance effort was intercepted.

"I am extremely proud of our team for coming out tonight and battling against a really good Colorado State team," said head coach Jim Whitesell. "It's a tough night and I feel for those guys in the locker room, but I am thankful for every one of our players and I am proud of what we were able to accomplish this season."

Williams led all scorers with 21 points as he added six boards and four assists. Graves and Hardnett both finished with 12 points as Hardnett added six boards and two blocks.

Josh Mballa finished with 10 points and nine boards and Ronaldo Segu had seven points.

Senior Brock Bertram had five points and four boards off the bench and Tra'von Fagan finished with six points on a pair of first half three pointers.

The Bulls finish the season at 16-9.