Kent defeats Buffalo in overtime

Javon McCrea had yet another career night against Kent but for the second time this season thirty plus points was not enough to topple the Kent State Golden Flashes. The loss moves Buffalo to 11-17 overall and 6-7 in the Mid-American Conference.

The Bulls second loss toKent State moves the flashes ahead in the East division standings on a tiebreaker with a 16-12 and 6-7 record. Were the MAC tournament to start today Kent would get the four seed and Buffalo would have to play into Cleveland.

Buffalo took command of the game early only trailing for a few second during the first half as they took a nine point lead into the half. They would grow that lead to 12 and maintain a large lead well into the second before Kent State charged back into the game.

With Buffalo holding a 60-49 advantage at the 11:58 mark, the Flashes went on an 8-0 run to bring it back to three, and the game see sawed after that. A layup from Tabb at the 5:38 gave Kent State its first lead of the half, but an and-one from McCrea and a Jarryn Skeete three pointer would put the Bulls back up five, 70-65. A 6-1 run capped by a Goodson three pointer tied the game at 71, and the two teams would trade a pair of points to enter overtime tied 73-all.

In overtime, with 19 seconds to play, Watson hoisted a three and hit it despite being fouled. But Watson missed the go-ahead free throw, though. So with 18 seconds and the score tied at 81-81 Kent had the ball. Evans would hold for the last shot, driving to the right of the basket and hitting a high-banked shot off the window as the horn sounded.

Just another night at the M.A.C

McCrea finished as the game's leading scorer with 32 points. Will Regan would finish with 14 points, Cameron Downing would have 13 in just 19 minutes, and Skeete had one of his best scoring games with 14 points. Despite only taking five shots, Watson was able to contribute eight assists and a pair of steals.

Three Point Shot

Point 1) McCrazy!

After tonight - With 492, Javon has moved into 10th place in points scored. With 75, Javon has passed sWatt and moved into 4th place in blocked shots. With 190, Javon has tied himself for second place in field goals made.

The fact he passed sWatt caught me off guard, hat tip to 121Merrimac at UBFan for looking that up.

Point 2) Rebounding Drought!

Kent is scoring 1.06 points per possession. The only thing we needed to do to beat them was to out rebound them, see the first half for evidence. Well the Bulls went from +8 in the first half to -8 for the game, a 16 rebound swing.

That right there was the difference.

Point 3) Close games...

Buffalo has lost seven games by four points or less. Here they are, minus Kent.

• Princeton - Javon McCrea missed a free throw that would have tied the game at 54 with 41 seconds left. Princeton hit a three on the next possession and the game was over.
• Yale - Wash rinse repeat, UB pulls in within a possession late and fades
• Saint Bonaventure - UB had a three point lead with 1:20 left and the committed four turnovers.
• Miami - Buffalo came back from 19 points down to take a lead with 1:01 left, they then let Miami get off two shots, and two free throws over the lat minute while the Bulls never got a shot off.
• Akron - Jarryn Skeete made Three Point Jumper at the 1:25 mark that brought UB to within one point. Buffalo then had a chance to tie the game but a turnover forced the Bulls to start fouling Akron and it was over.
• Manhattan - Tony Watson II made Three Point Jumper which brought Buffalo to withing one point. With 11 seconds left UB got the but wsa unable to set up any kind of shot to win.