In big-time games, big-time players need to play well. It's no different in any sport.
For the inconsistent men's basketball team, big-time veterans like Yassin Idbihi and Roderick Middleton seem to be playing well this season, but never quite clicking at the same time. On Saturday, the Bulls could have used some unified leadership, as Buffalo fell at home to Miami of Ohio 81-74.
The loss was Buffalo's third straight to a conference foe and dropped the team under .500 in Mid-American Conference play.
"We didn't have it tonight," said Bulls head coach Reggie Witherspoon. "They deserved to win and we obviously didn't."
On the first play of the game, Buffalo senior guard Calvin Cage made a steal and went the length of the court for a lay-up to put the Bulls ahead for the first of three leads in the game. But following Cage's shots, the RedHawks scored on four straight possessions. Buffalo (15-7 overall, 5-6 in the MAC) kept it close, taking the lead again at 13-12, on a foul shot by senior forward Mario Jordan.
A Jordan jumper put the Bulls back on top two possessions later, but Miami went on a 10-2 run to take the lead. At the half, the Bulls found themselves down by a score of 26-21 after shooting a dismal 32 percent from the field, and going 1-for-6 from beyond the arc.
The RedHawks (12-8, 9-3 MAC) controlled the rest of the game, leading the Bulls by 19 midway though the second half.
Buffalo's only bright spot came as freshmen guards Sean Smiley and Greg Gamble combined to score 23 second-half points as the Bulls mounted a late comeback attempt.
"I think everyone came together," Jordan said. "We didn't want to end the game the way we were playing."
Buffalo's overdue effort proved to be too little. With 30 seconds remaining, a lay-up by Smiley dropped the Bulls deficit to six, but solid RedHawk foul shooting sealed the victory the rest of the way. A last-second three-pointer by senior guard Middleton only cut the final score down to a seven-point loss.
"I thought the game would never end," said Miami head coach Charlie Coles. "Probably the most exhausting game we've played all year. As Buffalo always does, they compete. They don't have any quit in them, they were tough."
Junior center Idbihi only managed three points while going 1-for-10 from the field. Injured junior forward Parnell Smith could only log 14 minutes of court time.
"When we get a guy who struggles, we have to go to guys who aren't ready yet," Witherspoon said. "Parnell hasn't really practiced in two days, we have a really short rotation if he can't play at 100 percent."
Cage led the Bulls with 20 points including three bombs from beyond the three-point line. Jordan and Middleton each scored 12 for Buffalo, giving the seniors a combined 44 points for the night.
Four players scored in double figures for the RedHawks, led by Nathan Peavy's career-high 22 points. Peavy also grabbed 12 boards to complete a double-double along with teammate William Hatcher who scored 14 points and had 11 assists.
The win marked Miami's fifth MAC road win this season.
Miami's transition points and buckets down low made a Buffalo victory nearly impossible, as it notched 52 points in the paint, with 34 points coming in the second half. In comparison, the Bulls only netted 32 points down low with the lack of a strong big man's presence around the hoop.
The hustle of Buffalo's younger players late in the game made for an interesting finish, giving the Miami coaching staff something to worry about for next time. The Bulls played in an aggressive full-court press for the final seven minutes, with five guards on the floor.
"We came out very fortunate tonight," Coles said. "I wish we only had to play them once."
The Bulls will be back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Ball State University to do battle with the Cardinals. Ball State (7-12, 3-8 MAC) is coming off two straight losses, both to MAC teams. The game begins at 8 p.m.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
