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Miami senior Adam Fletcher drives the baseline. Below, Kenny Hayes goes in for a shot. Both players were honored as part of Miami's senior night activities. Photos by Mike Smith.

Buffalo made 26-of-52 field goals while routing the RedHawks 73-55 January 9. Miami, however, completely turned the tables Thursday by itself making 26-of-52 in defeating the visitors.

Miami also held Buffalo, who entered the game ranked second in scoring offense (MAC games only), to 36.1 percent from the field. In January, MU made just 35.3 percent.

The almost amazing statistical reversal even included three-point goals. Miami hit 2-of-14 (16.7 percent) in the first meeting. Buffalo connected on 2-of-12 Thursday.

“Defensively, we’ve gotten so much better,” said MU senior guard Kenny Hayes, who shook his head a little while recalling the RedHawks generous ways early in the campaign.  Hayes and his teammates, however, entered Thursday’s contest with a league-best 61.0 ppg scoring defense average and yielded just one more point than that mark against a very skilled Bulls offense.

Buffalo, in fact, has been on something of a roll. After losing five of six in late January-early February, the Bulls won six of seven entering the regular season finale.

Part of the RedHawks successful formula Thursday was holding Buffalo guards Rodney Pierce (3-for-13), John Boyer (1-for-7) and Calvin Betts (1-for-6) to a combined 5-for-26 (19.2 percent) from the field.
 
After combining for 39 points at Buffalo, Pierce, Boyer and Betts fell to 25 points of production Thursday.

Another key to the RedHawks fortunes in the rematch, according to Coles, was preventing the Bulls from getting a big lead early in the game. Buffalo raced out to a 22-5 lead in January, and MU never challenged. "They're tough to beat when they do that," Coles said.

Mitchell Watt and forward Max Boudreau had the hot shooting hands for UB in the first half. Watt made 5-of-8 shots on the way to 11 points in 11 minutes before the break. The 6-10 center added another six points in 11 minutes of the second half.

Boudreau, meanwhile, connnected on 4-of-7 from the field prior to intermission, netting all eight of his game points in nine minutes of first half action. He played six minutes and took one shot in the second half.

Buffalo held a lead through much of the first half, but could never break away. The Bulls largest margin was three points (on five occasions) as Miami quickly responded. There were five ties and five lead changes before intermission.

Miami finally took the lead for good, 29-27, on a layup by Hayes with 1:48 remaining, and the RedHawks led 33-29 at the break.

Kramer Soderberg's trey at 14:43 capped a 12-6 MU run to open the final period, and the hosts enjoyed a 10 point lead at 45-35. The sophomore's season-high nine points were part of a 23-12 MU advantage in points off the bench. The difference was particularly acute in the second half as the Red and White subs oustcored Buffalo's bench contingent 14-2.

Miami stretched its advantage to 17 points when Nick Winbush made a pair of free throws with 1:45 remaining. The visitors could get no closer than eight points after that.

Hayes and Julian Mavunga had 17 points each to lead Miami. Ballard was one shy of a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds. Both He and Mavunga recorded three (of Miami's nine) blocks on  the night. "Coach Coles has been on me ... about producing," Mavunga said. "I decided to be aggressive tonight."

Watt (17) and Pierce (16) were the only Bulls players in double figures. Calvin Betts led all players on the glass with 12 caroms.

Coles called his team's win over Buffalo "very important." Coming after three straight league losses by close scores, Thursday's victory was a confidence booster for the Red and White. "I was hungry for a win," said Coles, adding that he's looking forward to tournament play.

While a number of teams know their MAC tournament matchups, Miami and Buffalo must await the outcome of Friday's Kent State-Akron game in Akron. With a Kent State victory, the RedHawks would climb into the tournament's fourth seed. That would send MU (13-17, 9-7 MAC) straight to Cleveland with a first round bye. An Akron win would put the RedHawks in a first round home game against Toledo Sunday.

Buffalo (17-11, 9-7) is in the opposite situation and would get the fourth seed with an Akron win. A Kent State victory would pit the Bulls against Toledo Sunday.