Saturday, February 17
Buffalo, N.Y.
2 p.m.
3-22,1-11MAC
62
vs
73
Akron
19-6,11-1MAC
1
2
F
Akron
26
47
73
Buffalo
32
30
62
Photo by: Paul Hokanson/UBBulls.com
Bulls Fall to Top-Seeded Akron, 73-62
2/17/2024 6:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo men's basketball team (3-22, 1-11 MAC) couldn't hang on to a six-point halftime lead against the top-seeded Akron Zips (19-6, 11-1 MAC) on Saturday afternoon. The Zips snagged the win over the Bulls, 73-62.
Sy Chatman finished 24 points, eight rebounds and two blocks. This marked his 11th game of the season scoring at least 20 points. Isaiah Adams tallied 11 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Shawn Fulcher added 10 points and four assists as Zaakir Williamson scored 10 points, tying his career high.
The Bulls battled from beginning to end against the Zips. Down 5-0 early, Buffalo fought back to tie the game at 5 after a Jonnivius Smith and-one. It was a game of runs as Akron went on a 5-0 run to take a 10-5 lead, but the Bulls went on a 7-0 run to take a 12-10 lead of a Fulcher three-pointer. The Zips retook the lead after an 8-0 run to lead 18-12. The Bulls were clicking on both ends of the floor as they didn't allow any Akron points for nearly four minutes. Buffalo took a 24-18 lead as they went on their largest run of the game at 12-0. An Akron three with 2:52 to go in the first snapped their scoring drought and made it a 24-21 ball game. Buffalo was crashing into the paint as Williamson and Adams scored down the stretch. The Bulls led the Zips, 32-26 at the half.
At the half, the University at Buffalo honored men's basketball legend Turner Battle by hanging his name and number 11 in the Alumni Arena Wall of Fame.
Out of the half, Akron was zipping up and down the court. They opened the half on a 7-2 run to force a Buffalo timeout to regroup. With Akron up 36-34, Fulcher tied the game right out of the timeout on a fastbreak layup. With 13:42 left in the half, Williamson buried a pair of free throws to put the Bulls in front, 44-43. Akron was able to sustain a five-point lead down the stretch, as the Bulls struggled to make shots. Trying to conserve time, the Bulls fouled Akron to put them to the line. Akron had started the game 6-for-17 (35.3%) from the charity stripe, but closed out the game making their final four free throws to win, 73-62.
Two categories the Zips capitalized in were points of turnovers and second chance points. Buffalo only had 11 turnovers, one more than the Zips, but were outscored 21-5. The Bulls only scored two second chance points to Akron's 21.
"First off, congratulations to Turner battle," stated Head Coach George Halcovage III. "One of our greatest players to play at UB. It was really cool to see the outpouring of support of all of his former teammates. The entire crowd just so excited to see one of their own come back and get honored in such a great way. Not only is he a great former player, but in the short time I've gotten to know him, he's an even better man and father that makes us proud because he represents everything we want our guys to be here at UB. As for the game, I'm really proud of how our guys battled. I thought this is one of the best games we've played all year against a great team. We responded in the first half and took a good lead into the locker room. We got a little complacent to start the second half. We were in a battle where certain things didn't go our way and we had a couple mental errors at the end that cost us. Against a team like that, you have to make all the right plays because they're battle tested and they've been in those situations. A lot of credit to them. I have so much respect for Coach [John] Groce and how hard their guys play on a daily basis. They're a team that I think can win this conference and go into the NCAA tournament and make some noise."
Buffalo is back in action on Tuesday as they host the Eastern Michigan Eagles at 7 p.m.
Sy Chatman finished 24 points, eight rebounds and two blocks. This marked his 11th game of the season scoring at least 20 points. Isaiah Adams tallied 11 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Shawn Fulcher added 10 points and four assists as Zaakir Williamson scored 10 points, tying his career high.
The Bulls battled from beginning to end against the Zips. Down 5-0 early, Buffalo fought back to tie the game at 5 after a Jonnivius Smith and-one. It was a game of runs as Akron went on a 5-0 run to take a 10-5 lead, but the Bulls went on a 7-0 run to take a 12-10 lead of a Fulcher three-pointer. The Zips retook the lead after an 8-0 run to lead 18-12. The Bulls were clicking on both ends of the floor as they didn't allow any Akron points for nearly four minutes. Buffalo took a 24-18 lead as they went on their largest run of the game at 12-0. An Akron three with 2:52 to go in the first snapped their scoring drought and made it a 24-21 ball game. Buffalo was crashing into the paint as Williamson and Adams scored down the stretch. The Bulls led the Zips, 32-26 at the half.
At the half, the University at Buffalo honored men's basketball legend Turner Battle by hanging his name and number 11 in the Alumni Arena Wall of Fame.
Out of the half, Akron was zipping up and down the court. They opened the half on a 7-2 run to force a Buffalo timeout to regroup. With Akron up 36-34, Fulcher tied the game right out of the timeout on a fastbreak layup. With 13:42 left in the half, Williamson buried a pair of free throws to put the Bulls in front, 44-43. Akron was able to sustain a five-point lead down the stretch, as the Bulls struggled to make shots. Trying to conserve time, the Bulls fouled Akron to put them to the line. Akron had started the game 6-for-17 (35.3%) from the charity stripe, but closed out the game making their final four free throws to win, 73-62.
Two categories the Zips capitalized in were points of turnovers and second chance points. Buffalo only had 11 turnovers, one more than the Zips, but were outscored 21-5. The Bulls only scored two second chance points to Akron's 21.
"First off, congratulations to Turner battle," stated Head Coach George Halcovage III. "One of our greatest players to play at UB. It was really cool to see the outpouring of support of all of his former teammates. The entire crowd just so excited to see one of their own come back and get honored in such a great way. Not only is he a great former player, but in the short time I've gotten to know him, he's an even better man and father that makes us proud because he represents everything we want our guys to be here at UB. As for the game, I'm really proud of how our guys battled. I thought this is one of the best games we've played all year against a great team. We responded in the first half and took a good lead into the locker room. We got a little complacent to start the second half. We were in a battle where certain things didn't go our way and we had a couple mental errors at the end that cost us. Against a team like that, you have to make all the right plays because they're battle tested and they've been in those situations. A lot of credit to them. I have so much respect for Coach [John] Groce and how hard their guys play on a daily basis. They're a team that I think can win this conference and go into the NCAA tournament and make some noise."
Buffalo is back in action on Tuesday as they host the Eastern Michigan Eagles at 7 p.m.
Team Stats
UA
UB
FG%
.467
.383
3FG%
.304
.174
FT%
.476
.923
RB
40
37
TO
10
11
STL
6
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
24
FGM
8
3FGM
2
FTM
6
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
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