Following the disappointing loss to then-nationally-ranked No. 2 Pittsburgh Panthers, Buffalo hosted three more out of conference games in Alumni Arena before beginning Mid American Conference play. The Bulls finished with a record of 2-1, with the lone loss coming to Delaware State. Buffalo played all three games without senior forward and leading scorer and rebounder, Yassin Idbihi, who was out with an elbow injury.
Buffalo Bulls 72, Liberty Flames 66
Following the late-game loss to Pittsburgh, Buffalo squared off against Liberty. Behind a stellar effort from sophomore forward Greg Gamble, the Bulls avoided a letdown and beat the Flames, 72-66.
Without Idbihi in the lineup, Gamble tied a career-high in points and set a career-high in rebounding. The sophomore from Niagara Falls scored 15 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, including eight on the offensive end.
Buffalo staked a 12-6 lead at the 16:00 minute mark of the first half, but made only two baskets over the next eight minutes. A solid effort on the defensive end kept the Bulls close, and Buffalo went into halftime down 30-27 after a lay-up from sophomore forward Vadim Fedotov cut the Flames lead to three with 1:21 left in the first frame.
Fedotov, who started in place of Idbihi, finished the game with five points and a career-high 10 rebounds.
The Bulls mimicked the first half, again starting with 12-6 run and retook the lead at 16:45 of the second half. And again the Bulls allowed Liberty to fight back. With 6:11 left on the clock, Liberty tied the game at 54.
After a lay-up from sophomore guard Andy Robison gave the Bulls a two-point lead, sophomore guard Eric Moore propelled the Bulls to victory with eight straight points.
Moore led all scorers with 19.
The Flames had four players in double-digits, led by guard Dwight Brewington with 16.
Buffalo dominated the glass, out-rebounding Liberty by nearly 20, 52-31, including 24 offensive rebounds.
"I think our collective effort made up for (Idbihi's) rebounding presence," said head coach Reggie Witherspoon. "We needed everyone tonight and I'm glad they were able to contribute."
Delaware State Hornets 65, Buffalo Bulls 62
The Bulls fell to visiting Delaware State in Alumni Arena, 65-62.
"We didn't play very well and we didn't deserve to win," Witherspoon said. "There isn't anything that I can sit here and say that we did a good job at. You can say that we didn't give up, but that's not commendable, it's a requirement."
Buffalo got off to a very slow start and shot only 30 percent from the field in the first half while also committing almost as many turnovers. The Bulls turned the ball over 14 times while managing only 19 first half. Delaware State led Buffalo 25-19 at the half.
Delaware State continued to control the game and jumped out to a 16-point lead after a 7-0 run at the start of the second half. The Hornets stretched their lead to as much as 17 with 7:20 left in the game.
Trailing by eight, 58-50, with a little over two minutes left, the Bulls began a desperate comeback attempt. Robinson cut the lead to five after a steal and lay-in with a 1:05 left. Later, Robinson hit two free throws to bring the Bulls within four and following a steal and lay up by freshman Calvin Betts on the ensuing Hornets' possession, the Bulls were down only two.
After another Robinson steal gave Buffalo possession with 29 seconds left, Buffalo's comeback attempt fell short as senior forward Parnell Smith's jumper fell short.
Smith led the Bulls in scoring with 19 and also grabbed five rebounds, but contributed to the Bulls' turnover problem with six of his own.
Delaware State made all but three of their second half shots and shot a blistering 62.9 percent for the game.
Guard Jahsha Bluntt posted a game-high 24 points for the Hornets, including going four of five from three point range.
Buffalo Bulls 69, Siena Saints 64
For the third game in a row, the Bulls played without Idbihi, but Buffalo used a 21-0 run in the second half to overcome a 12 point Siena lead as they defeated the Saints, 69-64, in Alumni Arena.
"I thought our guys played pretty hard in the second half," Witherspoon said. "I think the big thing was how well we rebounded because we turned the ball over a lot and Siena shot the ball very well in the first half. We just stayed with it and got great contribution from guys off the bench and we are going to need to continue with that."
Buffalo had a sluggish first half for the second game in a row. Siena led by as many as 15 with 5:50 left in the first. A late half run lowered the lead, but Siena still led the Bulls, 37-29, at half.
After a Siena dunk gave them a 12 point lead at 15:55 of the second half, Buffalo's offense and defense came to life. A Moore three-pointer sparked the 21-0 run that saw the Bulls hold Siena scoreless for seven minutes.
During the stretch, Betts scored seven of the 21, on his way to 10 points and 11 boards, five being offensive.
Siena fought back, bringing the game to within three points with 53 seconds left in the game, but free throws by Gamble and Robinson sealed the victory for the Bulls.
Moore and Smith each finished with the game-high of 18 and turned in six and nine rebounds, respectively.
The Hornets were led by center Michael Haddix and guard Ronald Moore, each with 14.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
