Bulls Lead Wire-To-Wire In Senior Day Victory Over Kent State

Friday, March 5

Buffalo, NY

6:00 pm

14-7,12-5MAC

Kent State

15-7,12-6MAC

Kent St.

Buffalo

Bulls Lead Wire-To-Wire In Senior Day Victory Over Kent State

3/5/2021 9:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo men's basketball team won its fifth straight game as the Bulls closed out the regular season with an 81-67 victory over Kent State. The Bulls clinched the #2 seed in the upcoming MAC Tournament as the Bulls are now 14-7 on the season, finishing league play at 12-5.

On Senior Day, the Bulls started all five of their seniors and it paid off early. UB raced out to a 9-2 lead as senior Jayvon Graves drilled a triple just under three minutes in. Jamon Bivens, who picked up his first career start had a steal and a fast-break layup in the run.

The Golden Flashes would pull back within one at 11-10, but a 14-5 Buffalo run gave the Bulls a 25-15 lead, Buffalo's largest of the first half. UB would go on to take a 33-24 lead into the break.

Kent State scored the first six points of the second half, pulling within 33-30, but a three-pointer from LaQuill Hardnett helped the Bulls score five straight, to regain an eight-point lead. The Golden Flashes again pulled within three with 14:28 left, but a layup form Jeenathan William put the Bulls back up by double figures at 55-45.

Kent State wouldn't get any closer than six, but a 9-0 Buffalo run would seemingly put the game out of reach. A hook shot form senior Brock Bertram gave the Bulls their largest lead of the night at 72-56 with 4:54 left and Kent State never pulled within single digits over the final five minutes.

"I'm really happy for our seniors, I'm glad we were able to start all five of them and I thought they did a heck of a job," said head coach Jim Whitesell. "We still have plenty to work on, but I am really happy that we have won eight of our last nine and finished things out on a positive note."

Williams led the Bulls with 21 points and six rebounds, shooting 8-of-11 from the floor.

Graves finished with 17 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists as he moved into 10^th place on Buffalo's all-time scoring list. Junior Josh Mballa added 12 points and eight rebounds.

Senior David Nickelberry had 10 points and a pair of blocked shots as he picked up the start. Junior Ronaldo Segu added eight points, four rebounds, and seven assists.

The Bulls outrebounded Kent State, 43-30, and defensively Buffalo held Kent State to just 39.1% shooting, including 23.5% in the first half.

Buffalo had one of its better days from the free throw line, going 12-of-15, but hit 12 of their final 13 from the line after missing their first two.

The Bulls will open Mid-American Conference Tournament play on Thursday afternoon in the MAC Quarterfinals. The second-seeded Bulls will play #7 Miami (OH).