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Buffalo keeps rolling while Miami continues slide |
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Written by Mike Smith
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BUFFALO, NY - Rodney Pierce scored 21 points Saturday to lead the Buffalo Bulls to their fifth win in the last six games as the hosts opened MAC play with a 73-55 victory over Miami at Alumni Arena.
Pierce, a 6-2 senior guard, entered the game ranked third among MAC scorers with an 18.5 ppg. average. He has now scored 20 or more points in his last six games and was coming off a 31-point performance against Liberty.
Joining Pierce in double figures for the winners were Calvin Bets and Max Boudreau. Both had 11 points. Betts also pulled down 11 rebounds and contributed three assists as he registered his fourth double-double of the season.
Miami had its own 21-point performer in Adam Fletcher. The senior hit 8-of-11 shots from the field and added five points from the line while posting a career high.
Unlike the Bulls, however, Miami failed to put another player in double figures. The Bulls also held senior guard Kenny Hayes, who ranked fourth in the MAC with a 14.5 ppg., to four points. He was 1-of-10 from the field.
Junior Nick Winbush, who hit double figures four times and scored over 20 points twice in the first six games, scored seven against the Bulls. It marked the fifth straight game he has been out of double figures.
Bufffalo shot an even 50 percent (26/52) from the field while raising its record to 8-4 (1-0 MAC). Miami, which fell to 3-11, shot 35.3 percent (18.51) from the floor. The RedHawks were 2-of-14 from behind the arc.
Buffalo also owned a big advantage on the boards, outrebounding the visitors 37-26.
The Bulls jumped on Miami early, racing out to leads of 9-1 and 18-3.
After trailing 31-22 at intermission, Miami closed to 36-33 with Julian Mavunga's bucket at 15:52.
The Bulls responded with a Pierce jumper and trey by Betts.
An 18-4 Buffalo run - with all four Miami points coming from Fletcher- later in the period gave UB a commanding 69-45 lead with 4:56 remaining. The Bulls hit 64 percent from the field in the second half.
Buffalo shuffles off to Bowling Green for its next game (7 p.m.). Miami returns home for its first game at Millet Hall since Dec. 13 (which was also the date of its last win- a victory over Wright State). The RedHawks will take on Kent State (7 p.m.).
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