Bulls Comeback Falls Short in Overtime

Saturday, January 14

Mount Pleasant, MI

4:30 pm

8-9,2-2MAC

Central Michigan

7-10,2-2MAC

OT 1

Buffalo

Central Mich.

Photo by: Ken Smith/UBBulls.com

Bulls Comeback Falls Short in Overtime

1/14/2023 7:47:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The University at Buffalo men's basketball team (8-9, 2-2 MAC) lost to the Central Michigan Chippewas (7-10, 2-2 MAC) on Saturday afternoon in overtime, 87-78. In the loss, Curtis Jones led the team with 20 points while securing seven rebounds. Also finishing in double figures were Zid Powell (16), Jonnivius Smith (13), and Isaiah Adams (12). Adams finished the game with his first double-double of the season adding 11 rebounds.

It was a tale of two halves in Mount Pleasant as the Bulls struggled from the floor in the first half. Buffalo shot 11-for-32 (34.4%) in the opening 20. They were 3-for-10 from three-point range as Jones was the only player to knock down shots from beyond the arc. Due to those struggles, the Bulls were down 15 with just under two minutes to go in the half. Buffalo made it a 10-point game after the first 20-minutes of action with Central Michigan leading 40-30.

Buffalo stormed out of the locker room to start the second half. Continuing their run from the first half, the Bulls took 41-40 lead after a pair of LaQuill Hardnett free throws. During the run, the Buffalo defense held the Chippewas to 1-for-12 to start the second half. Central Michigan scored their first points of the half at the 13:12 mark off a free throw. Buffalo extended their lead to 61-53 with just over six minutes left in regulation. The Chippewas wouldn't be denied as they made their own comeback. With the game tied at 68 with less than 40-seconds to go, Buffalo turned the ball over on an offensive foul. The Chippewas had a look at taking the lead but turned it over to give the Bulls a chance for the win with 26-seconds to go. On the offensive attack, Jones was fouled with just over eight seconds left. After making both free throws, Buffalo led 70-68. Out of the Buffalo timeout, the Chippewas tied the game at the buzzer to force overtime.

Off the tip in overtime, it was all Central Michigan. They started it off with a three and took all the momentum. The Chippewas went 4-for-5 from the floor and buried eight of their 12 free throws. Buffalo shot 4-for-11 as they tired to crawl back.

Smith's 13-point night marked a career-high for the forward. He was perfect on the night shooting 6-for-6, snatching six rebounds, and adding a block.

Buffalo is back in action on Tuesday, Jan. 17 as they host Bowling Green at 7 p.m.