As of late, things have been coming in twos for the Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team. After losing in back-to-back overtime games, the Bulls have posted two consecutive wins with their win over the Eastern Michigan Eagles on Sunday night at Alumni Arena, 68-64.
"You have to go through (the losses)," said Buffalo head coach Reggie Witherspoon. "These guys are getting stronger but it's a painful thing to go through."
Buffalo opened up the contest going on 8-4 run with EMU eventually taking a brief one-point lead on a three-pointer by guard Travis Lewis to go up 9-8. UB responded by going on an 8-0 run with sophomore guard Sean Smiley nailing two three-pointers in this stretch.
Eastern Michigan once again chipped away at the Bulls' advantage and took another one-point lead on a three from guard Zane Gay at the 10:30 mark. However, the Bulls fired back and eventually took an eight point lead into the half.
UB controlled most of the beginning of the second half, taking its biggest lead of the game on a three-pointer by sophomore guard Rodney Pierce to go up by 10 at the 15:28 mark. But EMU remained a thorn in the side of the Bulls, eventually taking another brief one-point lead with 9:03 to go in the contest on another Gay three-pointer.
The game would be tied up on three separate occasions in the final six minutes with the Eagles evening things up 64-64 on a pair of free throws by guard Carlos Medlock at the 1:44 mark. UB responded when sophomore guard Byron Mulkey hit a jumper with 48 seconds left in the contest which would prove to be the game clincher.
"The ball was kicked out to me and I was going to attack but I went with what the defense gave me and I lifted my shot and it went in," Mulkey said.
"It was a game of runs and (Buffalo) made the last run and scored the last four points of the game," said Eastern Michigan coach Charles Ramsey. "We had opportunities with the game tied to do the same."
The Bulls were led by sophomore guard Calvin Betts, who came off the bench to record a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
"For me, I think the difference is working hard," Betts said. "To me, it's not a size thing it's about who wants it the most."
Mulkey also scored in double-digits with 12 points. Junior guard led the team in steals with four.
Guard Jesse Bunkley had a game-high 15 points for EMU while Medlock led the Eagles by pulling down eight rebounds and recording six assists.
As of late, things have been coming in twos for the Buffalo Bulls men's basketball team. After losing in back-to-back overtime games, the Bulls have posted two consecutive wins with their win over the Eastern Michigan Eagles on Sunday night at Alumni Arena, 68-64.
"You have to go through (the losses), " said Buffalo head coach Reggie Witherspoon. "These guys are getting stronger but it's a painful thing to go through."
Buffalo opened up the contest going on 8-4 run with EMU eventually taking a brief one-point lead on a three-pointer by guard Travis Lewis to go up 9-8. UB responded by going on an 8-0 run with sophomore guard Sean Smiley nailing two three-pointers in this stretch.
Eastern Michigan once again chipped away at the Bulls' advantage and took another one-point lead on a three from guard Zane Gay at the 10:30 mark. However, the Bulls fired back and eventually took an eight point lead into the half.
UB controlled most of the beginning of the second half, taking its biggest lead of the game on a three-pointer by sophomore guard Rodney Pierce to go up by 10 at the 15:28 mark. But EMU remained a thorn in the side of the Bulls, eventually taking another brief one-point lead with 9:03 to go in the contest on another Gay three-pointer.
The game would be tied up on three separate occasions in the final six minutes with the Eagles evening things up 64-64 on a pair of free throws by guard Carlos Medlock at the 1:44 mark. UB responded when sophomore guard Byron Mulkey hit a jumper with 48 seconds left in the contest which would prove to be the game clincher.
"The ball was kicked out to me and I was going to attack but I went with what the defense gave me and I lifted my shot and it went in," Mulkey said.
"It was a game of runs and (Buffalo) made the last run and scored the last four points of the game," said Eastern Michigan coach Charles Ramsey. "We had opportunities with the game tied to do the same."
The Bulls were led by sophomore guard Calvin Betts, who came off the bench to record a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
"For me, I think the difference is working hard," Betts said. "To me, it's not a size thing it's about who wants it the most."
Mulkey also scored in double-digits with 12 points. Junior guard led the team in steals with four.
Guard Jesse Bunkley had a game-high 15 points for EMU while Medlock led the Eagles by pulling down eight rebounds and recording six assists.