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“It wasn’t a picturesque shooting performance by either team,” Buffalo head coach Reggie Witherspoon said. “But I did think it was a hard-fought game that we were fortunate enough to get through and be successful. We haven’t shot the ball that poorly all year, but I thought we had really good energy and really good perseverance.

While UB improved its record to 17-11 overall (8-7 MAC), Miami fell to 15-15 overall, 10-5 in MAC play. The RedHawks had moved into first place following Kent State’s loss Saturday at Ohio, but the Flashes won at Bowling Green Tuesday and now hold a one-game advantage in the MAC East. Both MU and KSU have formidable foes to finish the regular season. Miami takes on a resurgent Ohio team Friday (7 p.m.), while Kent State hosts arch-rival Akron Saturday (7 p.m.).

MU head coach Charlie Coles noted that early in the season, Buffalo appeared to be the team to beat in the MAC East. A second-half slump, however, took the Bulls out of the regular season race. Prior to Wednesday’s game, UB had lost four of its last five games and five of the last seven.

The Bulls weren’t exactly clicking on all cylinders against Miami, but they controlled the boards. Buffalo owned a 44-29 overall advantage in rebounds and more than doubled the visitors (17-8) on offensive caroms.

“The story of the game was the offensive rebounds,” Miami head coach Charlie Coles said. “We didn’t rebound very good at all.”

Throw in nine blocked shots (including four by Mitchell Watt and three by Jevon McCrae), and it was more than enough to get the job done on a night when Miami’s offense all but fell off the radar for much of the second half.

After a Nick Winbush three at 13:10 gave MU a 43-42 lead, the RedHawks scored six points the rest of the way. A Quinten Rollins steal and layup accounted for Miami’s only points after Chris McHenry’s layup with 9:51 remaining.

Adding to their shooting woes from the field, the RedHawks were also unable to tap what has been a valuable resource – free throws - in a number of key victories this season. Miami made 4-of-8 tosses for the game, including 0-for-2 in the decisive second half. 

Buffalo also struggled late, managing just one field goal after Jawaan Alston’s jumper at 8:53. But the Bulls did get to the free throw line, and converted 7-of-8 after Alston’s basket.

Watt and Zach Filzen paced Buffalo with 12 points each. Watt, who contributed 10 rebounds, scored 10 of his points and registered three of the four blocks during the first half. “Mitchell Watt was a guy that hurt us,” Coles said.

Miami got 14-point nights from Nick Winbush (along with 11 boards) and Orlando Williams. Forward Julian Mavunga, however, was held to six points. He missed both his only foul shot attempts and went 3-for-14 from the floor.

As bad as Miami’s offense looked late in the second half, it nonetheless appeared healthy early in the game. Williams twice gave the visitors 12-point leads (18-6 and 20-8).  But after Mavunga hit a jumper at 11:53 of the first period, Miami made just two more field goals before intermission.

Buffalo, meanwhile, turned the tide with a 13-2 run to trail by one at 22-21. Later in the period, a 13-4 run allowed UB to enjoy a 37-32 halftime advantage.

Winbush hit a pair of treys early in the final period and added another at 13.10 to give Miami its final lead of the contest, 43-42. Filzen connected on two baskets, the second one a trey, and the Bulls were on their way.

“We just weren’t right tonight,” said Coles, whose team has one more chance to get it right before the MAC tournament.

“We’re playing for a lot on Friday,” said Coles, adding that his squad will be facing a team that is peaking, Ohio (9-6 MAC) travels to Oxford with a five-game winning streak. The Bobcats have won seven of their last eight and 9 of 14. He noted Ohio came into last year’s MAC tourney without a high seed and ran the table.

Buffalo has its own challenge. It travels to Bowling Green (1 p.m. tip) and will face the Falcons in the final game to be played at venerable Anderson Arena.