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| Game 1: UB vs South Dakota State University | ||
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| Date - November 11th, 2014 | Record: 0-0,0-0 | |
| Time - 7:30 PM |
League: Summit League | |
| Venue - Alumni Arena |
RPI: 138 (2013-2014) | |
UB opens up their season with a long-overdue game against South Dakota State. This is a return game from the 2011-2012 Bracket busters contest in which the Bulls headed out west to face future second round draft choice Nate Wolters.
The return game was initially set for last season but a snow storm forced yet another delay.
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The tast meeting between the two teams went... poorly.
The Bulls trailed only 21-18 late in the first half but lost control and let the Jackrabbits go on a 10-0 run for a 31-18 edge with 2:44 before the break.
The Bulls never got closer than nine after that, and the lead peaked at 23 points in the final minutes.
UB's only game this season has been an exhibition match where they defeated Wheeling Jesuit 79-60.
The game was a chance to introduce seven new faces on the team. Coach Bobby Hurley has to account for the graduations of Javon McCrea and Josh Freelove, the team's two leading scorers last season.
Bulls received balanced scoring as four players found their way into double figures and seven different players saw at least 20 minutes of court time. With seven new faces on the team this year, the Bulls were able to maintain a lead for nearly the entire evening.
South Dakota State won their exhibition but not in nearly as convincing a fashion. The Jacks never pulled away from Dakota Wesleyan, but led for the vast majority of the game, and finished with a 79-72 victory victory at Frost Arena.
The only point of true concern for UB coming out of their exhibition game was a 10 minute stretch of poor play in the second half.
Buffalo Men's Basketball: Instant Reactions from Wheeling Jesuit Exhibition Win - Bull Run
Sloppy with the lead: The middle ten-minute stretch of the half was... not that fun to watch. UB was imprecise in passing and shooting, and had the look of a young team looking for highlight-reel plays. I don't think it's much reason for concern right now, but something to pay attention to when the regular season begins.
If the Bulls want to start the year off with a win such a stretch of bad play can't happen. If UB plays a solid 40 minutes than they win this game.
| Players to Watch | |||
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Will Regan |
The Virginia transfer game started every contest last season with the exception of UB's Senior day, when he surrendered his spot to a senior teammate. This year Regan is one of the few pieces of team that won the MAC east last year. |
Cody Larson | Larson started all 32 games in his first season with the Jackrabbitts. Given the attrition on South Dakota the Florida transfer will have to better his 2013 average of 13.1 points and 7.0 rebounds and play a leadership roll |