Buffalo, NY (Sports Network) - Javon McCrea registered 21 points, eight
rebounds, four blocks and three steals as the eighth-seeded Buffalo Bulls
outlasted the ninth-seeded Central Michigan Chippewas in overtime, 74-72, in
the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament at Alumni Arena.
Will Regan netted 15 points and hauled in eight boards for Buffalo (13-19),
which will face off against fifth-seeded Ball State in the second round on
Wednesday. Tony Watson shot just 1-of-10 from 3-point range but still finished
with 14 points and six assists, while Raph Thomas-Edwards added 10 points off
the bench for the hosts.
For CMU (12-18), Kyle Randall shot 10-of-20 from the field and 8-of-8 from the
free-throw line for 31 points, his second consecutive 30-plus-point
performance. Chris Fowler was also stellar with 13 points, nine assists and
five steals.
Buffalo carried a 30-26 lead into intermission after shooting 44.4 percent
from the field in the first half, while CMU shot less than 40 percent.
The Chippewas opened the second half up on an 8-2 run to take the lead less
than three minutes in. The squads remained within a possession of one another
for most of the half until the Bulls pieced together a 10-2 surge to take a
65-58 advantage with 3:18 left to play. Buffalo led by three in the final
minute before Randall drilled a 3-pointer with 21 seconds left to force
overtime.
In the extra session, McCrea drained a jumper on Buffalo's first possession
and it led the rest of the way.
Buffalo won the rebounding battle, 41-31.
GAME NOTES:
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