Over break, the Bulls' men's basketball team were stuffed like a Thanksgiving turkey in contests versus the Niagara Purple Eagles, as well as the 17th-ranked Pittsburgh Panthers. In both cases, the Bulls were outplayed in nearly every way possible.
On Tuesday, the Bulls (2-3) visited local rival Niagara (2-1) in a game that held bragging rights in Western New York. In a fashion not familiar to the Bulls, the Purple Eagles came out in full force, destroying the Bulls 80-63 in front of a sold-out crowd at the Gallagher Center.
"We didn't deserve to win this game or even be in the game," said head coach Reggie Witherspoon. "We didn't even deserve to be out there."
Junior guard Andy Robinson led the Bulls with 16 points, the only Bull to reach double figures. Robinson scored nine of the Bulls' first 11 points, helping the Bulls climb to an 11-10 lead in the first half. However, the Bulls would not lead for the rest of the game as the Purple Eagles clawed away at the Bulls, mounting a 15-3 run to take a 25-14 lead. By the end of the first half, Niagara sat on a 36-25 lead.
As the second half began, Niagara opened with a 10-2 run to earn a 19-point advantage. A free throw by sophomore forward Calvin Betts cut the Purple Eagle lead to 55-42 with 10:29 left in the match. That was as close as the Bulls would get as the Purple Eagles flew to their 17-point victory.
The Bulls struggled offensively, shooting only 35 percent from the field and committing 26 turnovers. However, Buffalo had a season-high 49 rebounds in the match, 13 more than the victorious Purple Eagles.
"I'm not happy with anything," Witherspoon said. "There are nights like that, but I'm not going to sit here and tell you I'm happy with something."
Hoping to rise from the defeat as well as seek vengeance for last year's loss, the Bulls visited nationally ranked Pittsburgh (8-0) on Friday, hoping to put a victory under their belt. The Panthers, on the other hand, showed the Bulls why they are a national powerhouse as they slammed Buffalo in a 92-45 loss.
"It was very disappointing because we expected a lot, especially after what happened last season," said junior center Vadim Fedotov, who had a career-high 13 points in the match. "They came to our house and we wanted to take back what they took from us. It was the opposite of what we expected."
The Bulls started quickly, scoring the first four points of the game thanks to baskets by Fedotov and sophomore forward Max Boudreau. The Panthers, not to be outdone, responded by scoring the next 22 points in the game. At the end of the first half, Buffalo trailed Pittsburgh 49-21.
As the second half began, the Bulls were never able to stop the attack from the Panthers, who shot 50.7 percent in the game. Buffalo made only 4 of 19 from three-point range and were out-rebounded, 42-29. Also, the Panthers were at the free throw line 22 times, capitalizing on 18 of the shots. The Bulls, however, were only three of six in the same situation.
"This team is better because their ball handlers are good at shooting and making decisions," Witherspoon said. "They put the other people in such good positions on the floor that there's no stress."
The Panthers were led by center DeJuan Blair, who had four points and five rebounds in 16 minutes. The Bulls were led by Fedotov, as well as play from Betts and Boudreau. The win helps boost the Panthers' lead in the series, 8-1. The loss occurred in the first match between the two teams 91 years ago.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
