Bulls Fall to Miami (OH), 91-80

Tuesday, January 10

Oxford, OH

7:00 pm

8-8,2-1MAC

Miami (OH)

7-9,1-2MAC

Buffalo

Miami (OH)

Photo by: Ken Smith/UBBulls.com

1/10/2023 10:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

OXFORD, Ohio. – The University at Buffalo men's basketball team (8-8, 2-1 MAC) fell to the Miami (OH) RedHawks (7-9, 1-2 MAC) on Tuesday evening, 91-80. In the loss, Zid Powell led the Bulls with 20 points and a career-high eight steals. Armoni Foster finished with a career-high 19 points. Curtis Jones led the team with nine rebounds and three assists while scoring 12 points.

The key difference in the matchup were free throws. Miami entered the game first in the MAC and fourth in the nation in free throw percentage at a rate of 80.4%. They finished 18-of-21, good for 85.7%. Buffalo's free throw struggles carried over as they missed 15 on the night, going 23-for-38 (60.5%). This included missing 11 in the second half, 16-of-27 (59.3%).

The RedHawks finished with eight more threes than the Bulls, going 11-for-27 compared to 3-for-17. Miami's clutch threes were daggers into the Bulls' hope of a comeback as they would inevitably drill one as Buffalo started creeping back. Overall, Miami was 31-of-60 (51.7%) from the floor as Buffalo finished 27-of-58 (46.6%).

There was little flow to the game as there were 39 combined turnovers, 46 fouls, and 59 free throws attempted in the game. Buffalo's assist-to-turnover ratio was 10-17, as Miami finished 16-22. The Bulls finished with 13 steals compared to the RedHawks five.

The Bulls started off with a 4-0 lead, but the RedHawks made threes in two of their next three possessions. It was back and forth, but Miami got out to a 34-25. Buffalo had a 7-0 run to make it a 34-32 Miami lead with 2:51 left in the half. Miami led 37-34 at halftime.

Out of the half, the Bulls made it a one-point game at 39-38 in favor of Miami. Buffalo tied the game at 59 after a Miami technical, but that was the closest the game got as Buffalo never took a second half lead. Despite Miami getting into foul trouble in the second half, the Bulls failed to finish at the line. The empty possessions led Miami to increase their lead too far out of reach for Buffalo.

Powell's eight steals tied the program record with Modie Cox (Dec. 29, 1994 against Iona), Michael Washington (Feb. 20, 1988 against Pace), and Gary Domzalski (1973-74).

Buffalo is back in action on Saturday, Jan. 14 as they play travel to Mount Pleasant, Mich. to play the Central Michigan Chippewas at 4:30 p.m.