March 2, 2011
Box Score
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Senior forward Nick Winbush had a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds and sophomore guard Orlando Williams added 14 points, but a second-half scoring drought cost Miami in a 59-49 loss at Buffalo Wednesday night.
The RedHawks (15-15, 10-5) scored just one field goal in the final 9:51 after closing to within 48-47 midway through the second half.
Miami had jumped out to an early lead, 18-6 just over five minutes into the game. Williams, who tallied 12 of his points in the opening period, had eight points during the run. After the teams traded baskets, Buffalo (17-12, 8-7) answered with a 12-2 run that included nine straight points to close to within two, 22-20 by the 10:22 mark.
Sophomore guard Allen Roberts hit a three-pointer to push the lead back to five, but a free throw and three by the Bulls brought the gap to a single point, 25-24. Later, Buffalo scored five points in a row to turn a 27-26 deficit into a 31-27 lead with 3:59 left in the period. Williams hit all three free throws after being fouled behind the arc, to pull the RedHawks to within 31-30 with 2:19 to play. The Bulls answered with a three to end half on a 6-2 run that made the lead five, 37-32, at the break.
Miami grabbed the lead again at the 13:10 mark of the second stanza when Winbush knocked down a three but Zach Filzen of the Bulls tallied five straight points on a jumper and three-pointer. Junior guard Chris McHenry turned a defensive rebound into a fastbreak layup with 9:51 left to pull Miami to within one, 48-47, but the 'Hawks never got closer.
Miami did not score for 8:41, but Buffalo also went scoreless for a more than 3:30 stretch. The Bulls scored seven straight points on the RedHawks to push their lead to eight, 55-47, at the three-minute mark. Freshman guard Quinten Rollins ended the Miami drought with a steal and layup with 1:10 left, but the Bulls added four free throws over the remaining time to clinch the victory.
Junior forward Julian Mavunga grabbed 10 rebounds, while adding six points and five assists. Neither team shot the ball well, with Miami hitting 33.3 percent, compared to just 35.0 percent for the Bulls. Buffalo also held a 48-33 advantage on the boards.
Miami closes out the regular season Friday at 7 p.m. against Ohio in Millett Hall. The RedHawks can still claim a share of the conference title with a win over the Bobcats and a Kent State loss to Akron.
