The Sea of Blue II - Today in UB MAC Tournament History

March 8, 2003 - Women's MAC First Round - Alumni Arena, Buffalo, NY - Buffalo 72, Central Michigan 53

Ken West's Rachel Martin scored 22 points and had 17 rebounds and Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe added 19 points as UB earned their second ever trip to Cleveland with a big win over CMU. UB was the six seed at 17-10 in 2003, but CMU started the game stronger going up 20-12 after 10 minutes. However behind Martin, who scored 17 of UB's first 33 points, UB and CMU were tied at the half.

UB opened the second half on a 19-0 run that lasted 8 minutes. Led by McMeeken-Ruscoe, who had 13 points in the half including 88 seconds where Kate notched 7 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals. UB went to Cleveland where they eventually fell to Ball State.

March 8, 2004 - Men's MAC First Round - Alumni Arena, Buffalo, NY - Buffalo 90, Northern Illinois 73

The 16-11 #5 seed UB Bulls finished the season on a seven game win streak. For the first time in a long time, there was a buzz around UB Men's Basketball. 5,378 fans came to watch UB open their season with a two-point loss to local rival Canisius. Two months later the 6-9 Bulls beat Akron, but only 1,613 fans were at Alumni to see it.

A month later, the Bulls were on a 6-2 run, and 6,176 members of the Sea of Blue swept over Alumni Arena as they defeated the 20-3 Kent State Golden Flashes. Twelve days later, the Sea of Blue II was invited back to help send the UB Men to Cleveland for the first time ever. 8,971 fans showed up and UB delivered a victory.

NIU dictated the play early, taking a 15-8 lead and maintaining the lead. With the score 26-18 with 8 minutes left in the 1st half, UB took over. In the final 8 minutes, UB went on a 25-12 run led by Yassin Idbihi's 9 points and Jason Bird's 8.

In the second half, NIU never got closer than 4 points down. UB had five players in double figures (Idbihi, Battle, Bird, Cage & Bortz) led by Idbihi who scored 23 and grabbed 8 rebounds.

March 8, 2011 - Men's MAC First Round - Alumni Arena, Buffalo, NY - Buffalo 64, Central Michigan 50

Somehow a team with Watt, Titus Robinson, Mulkey, Filzen Barnett, Watson, Oldham, McCrea, Alston and Nuiriankh only drew 1,804 fans. Filzen was the fifth player in MAC history to make 100 three-pointers in one season. Javon McCrea was named MAC Freshman of the year. After starting 14-6, UB went 2-6 in MAC road games and finished their season 3-6 en route to a disappointing 8-8 MAC season and an 8 seed in the MAC tournament.

Filzen paced the Bulls with three first half three pointers and 11 points as UB took a 30-26 lead at the half. In the second half, a Trey Zeigler 3 pointer followed by a steal and layup by William McClure brought CMU to within 2 with 16 minutes remaining. From there, UB went on a 14-4 run fueled by threes from Mulkey, Dave Barnett and two from Filzen. CMU never recovered from the 50-38 deficit and UB cruised to a 64-50 victory.

The Bulls moved to Cleveland to face top seeded Kent State, a team they had beaten by 25 points in January, but they were unable to defeated the Flashes in March, losing 72-63.

via ubathletics.buffalo.edu

March 9, 2013 - Women's MAC First Round - Alumni Arena, Buffalo, NY - Buffalo 56, Northern Illinois 46

The 10-19 Bulls earned the 7 seed and hosted #10 NIU. After a 2-11 start, UB had turned things around under first year coach Felisha Legette-Jack, finishing 8-8. Jack earned her first MAC win in January in Alumni against NIU so chances are UB would win and make their way back to Cleveland.

Both teams started the game ice cold, with UB shooting 24% from the field and NIU 35% in the first half. UB went into halftime up 22-20 behind Kristen Sharkey who scored 8 points, on 2-7 shooting and 4-4 from the free throw line. No shooter from either team had more than 2 field goals.

In the second half Karin Moss came out hot scoring 7 of UB's first 8 points to give UB a 30-25 lead. Mackenzie Loesing took over scoring five in a row to give UB a 35-33 with 8 minutes remaining. UB finally got the run they needed, a 12-4 run over 4 minutes led by Christa Baccas and Loesing that gave UB a 47-35 lead. Sloane Walton drained 6 free throws to seal the game and UB won 56-46.

UB shot 42.3% in the second half and were led by Moss who was 3-3 and Loesing who was 4-5 shooting. Depth was the key in a tight game as UB had 5 scorers with 8 or more points (Sharkey, Loesing, Baccas, Moss & Walton) while NIU had two (Natecia Augusta & Ashley Sneed).

UB earned a trip to Cleveland and a matchup with Miami of Ohio.