Battle of division leaders goes to the Bulls

???Last season, a David Kool-led Western Michigan squad overcame a regulation-long Buffalo lead to force overtime. The experienced Bronco squad was able to outlast the Bulls in double overtime and send a dejected Buffalo squad to a 6-14 record. The Broncos would go on to win the Mid-American Conference West division.

???This time, in a matchup of division leaders at Western Michigan, Buffalo was able to return the favor, defeating the Broncos, 74-71, on Tuesday.

???The game featured 13 lead changes and impressive second-half performances from Kool and Bulls' junior guard Rodney Pierce, Buffalo (13-5, 5-1 MAC) was able to pull out a back-and-forth contest, to topple the Broncos (7-12, 4-2 MAC). At 5-1, the Bulls now own sole possession of the best record in the MAC.

???"It was a great game, both teams played well. Western Michigan executed great and passed the ball very well," head coach Reggie Witherspoon said." We did a great job of persevering. We really took their best shot. We took their shots and didn't get discouraged at all. That's a wonderful thing to see."

???The Bulls had to fight off Western Michigan runs all night long. The Broncos got their biggest lead of the night early on the game when they made their first four 3-point attempts. Another Western Michigan basket put the Broncos up, 14-2.

???Junior guard John Boyer got the Bulls back into the game with two straight shots beyond the arc, getting the Bulls within six points. Boyer led the Bulls at halftime with eight points.

???Boyer wasn't the only Bull to make shots in the half. The Bulls got scoring from 10 players in the half to give them a balanced scoring attack.

???Down 24-18, Buffalo outscored the Broncos 18-10 run to end the half with momentum. A senior forward Vadim Feditov basket gave the Bulls their first lead at 32-31 with 3:15 left. The Bulls ended the half up 36-34.

???The second half would start very similar to the first half with the Broncos making their baskets inside the arc. A couple early Buffalo turnovers became points for the Broncos. Western began the half on an 11-2 run that put them ahead 45-38. The early run was partly due to 2-for-15 shooting by Buffalo early on.

???But just like the first half, Buffalo managed heat up from the floor and scrap their way back into the game. A 3-point basket from junior forward Calvin Betts cut the Broncos lead to four. Buffalo would eventually go on a 5-0 run, capped by a Pierce layup, to tie the game at 50.

???It became the Pierce-Kool show from there. During a stretch of back-and-forth baskets and numerous lead changes, Pierce scored 13 of Buffalo's 18 points. Pierce finished with 21 points, including 16 in the second half.

???On the other side, Kool was the engine that kept Western Michigan going. After a Pierce basket gave Buffalo a one-point lead, the junior Western Michigan guard sank a basket to put the Broncos up 67-66 with 3:15 left. Kool had 20 on the night, including 14 in the final half.

???The Bulls would answer the Kool basket. Junior forward Max Boudreau gave Buffalo the lead once again when he scored two of his 12 points off an in-bounds pass to put Buffalo up 68-67 with 2:41 left.

???Boudreau's basket would be the last lead-change of the game as the Bulls toughened up on the defensive end. Up 72-69 with less than 40 seconds left, Western guard Michael Redel was blocked by senior guard Andy Robinson. Western's final possession also ended with a Robinson block as Kool attempted to heave a desperation 3-point shot before the buzzer.

???"Down the stretch we were a little fatigue, but defending down the stretch was great. Defending won us the game." Witherspoon said.

???The win gives the Bulls three-straight MAC road wins for the first time since the 2003-04 season. It came against a Western Michigan team that entered the game with a 39-7 record in MAC home games over the last six years.

???"We were looking for a stop at the end, not for the clock to wind down," Witherspoon said. "It's that kind of determination that you need in these situations on the road."

???The Bulls return home for a three-game home stand beginning this weekend. Alumni Arena will be the venue for a nationally televised contest on ESPN2. Tip off between the Bulls and the Toledo Rockets is scheduled for noon.