NCAAB Game Recap - Bowling Green at Buffalo
Sat Mar 16, 2019 7:30 PM EDT

UMBC
49
Vermt
66
F
Penn
58
Harv
66
F
Wisc
55
MSU
67
F
NCC
50
Norf
47
F
Hou
61
Mem
58
F
TxSt
46
GASt
59
F
TXSo
86
PVAM
92
F
Seton
72
Vill
74
F
BGSU
73
Buff
87
F
E WA
62
Mont
68
F
W Ky
56
ODU
62
F
GrCan
57
NMSt
89
F
Oreg
68
Wash
48
F
CS-Ful
64
UCIrv
92
F
Princ
77
Yale
83
F
Tenn
82
KY
78
F
StLou
67
David
44
F
WichSt
63
Cin
66
F
SDSU
57
UtSt
64
F
GaSo
58
TexAr
67
F
NOrl
60
AbCh
77
F
Minn
49
Mich
76
F
IaSt
78
Kansas
66
F
FSU
63
Duke
73
F
URI
51
StBon
68
F
Fla
62
Aub
65
F

Mar 16, 2019, 7:30 PM EDT

Final

1

2

T

(3) Bowling Green

38

35

73

(1) Buffalo

39

48

87

Raging Bulls: Buffalo wins fourth MAC title in 5 years
Sat Mar 16, 2019 11:13 PM

CLEVELAND (AP) Not a coaching change. Not new players. Not any MAC team has been able to slow this historic run.

Buffalo is far and away the class of its conference, the standard bearer, the team raising the bar and maybe one capable of making more noise in the NCAA Tournament.

Raging Bulls.

Jeremy Harris scored 31 points, C.J. Massinburg added 17 and No. 18 Buffalo won its fourth Mid-American Conference title in five years - and further stamped itself as a team capable of doing major damage in March - by beating Bowling Green 87-73 on Saturday night.

The top-seeded Bulls (31-3), who dominated the MAC during the regular season, withstood a strong effort by the Falcons (22-12), one of three schools to beat them during the regular season.

Buffalo's five-year reign atop the league is unprecedented for the MAC, and the latest title only boosts a resume that should make the Bulls the highest ever seeded MAC team when the NCAA brackets are unveiled Sunday.

"It goes to show what a dynasty this program is," said Massinburg, the MAC's Player of the Year. "We're going to be good for years to come. This team is not done yet. It's going to be scary."

Bowling Green gave Buffalo all it could handle and it was within 74-71 after Bulls center Nick Perkins fouled out with 4:26 left when he was called for a technical foul. But Buffalo scored 12 straight points and closed with a 14-3 run to complete a three-day sweep at Quicken Loans Arena, a friendly home away from home for the past few years.

Buffalo's program has been on the rise for years, and has stayed strong despite coach Bobby Hurley's departure and playing a league known for its competitiveness and balance.

The MAC, though, belongs to Buffalo right now. The Bulls shocked No. 4 seed Arizona in last year's NCAA Tournament and are looking to go further in 2019.

"We want to make it to the second weekend," said coach Nate Oats. "This team is pretty special."

Harris, a silky smooth left-hander, went 13 of 20 and was named the tournament's MVP. He opened the night with a thunderous dunk and had several jaw-dropping baskets.

"Jeremy was cooking. That man over there," Massinburg said, looking at his teammate. "He's something different."

Justin Turner and Daeqwon Plowden led Bowling Green with 16 points apiece. The Falcons stayed close by winning the rebound battle 48-34, but didn't have enough to earn their first NCAA bid since 1968.

Maybe next year. This one belongs to Buffalo - again.

"They get all the credit," said Bowling Green coach Michael Huger. "They made the plays. Harris made the shots that he needed to make. Graves made the shots that he needed to make. We took away things that they wanted to do with mainly Perkins and containing Massinburg, and those other guys stepped up. That's what really good teams do."

SOME RESPECT

Buffalo came in with an NCAA bid locked up, and while the Bulls' dominance helps the MAC's national reputation, it will prevent the league from getting two teams in the NCAA Tournament. The MAC hasn't had two schools in the 64-team field since 1999.

Oates said the NCAA Committee needs to recognize Buffalo's accomplishments.

"We won 31 games. I think we deserve a 4 (seed)," he said. "A minimum of a 5. I don't know why not."

The MAC has not had a team seeded eighth or higher since the Tournament expanded to 64 in 1985.

BIG PICTURE

Bowling Green: Played in just its fourth MAC title game and first since 2002. Also made the final in 1983 and 1980. ... Won at least 22 games for just the fourth time since 1950. ... Huger likes what's ahead for his program. Bowling Green was picked to finish last in the MAC East before the season. "The future's bright for Bowling Green basketball," he said. "We've got to work to get back to this point. The guys are hungry. They see what it's like out there. Definitely a motivational thing of seeing it tonight and wanting more."

Buffalo: Won its 12th straight game. The win completed a championship sweep by the school as the women's team won the MAC title earlier in the day. ... Racked up school records for wins, conference wins and went 14-0 at home, where they've won 26 straight. ... Entered as one of three schools with 30 wins. Houston and Gonzaga are the others.

UP NEXT

Bowling Green: In position for a postseason bid.

Buffalo: Waits for Sunday's selection show and potentially as high as a No. 6 seed.

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More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25

Leaders

Bowling Green PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
D. Plowden 16 0 1 8 1 1
J. Turner 16 0 3 4 1 0
Buffalo PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
J. Harris 31 0 2 5 0 1
C. Massinburg 17 0 3 10 0 1

Team Comparison

BGSU Buff
Points For 73 87
Field Goals 28/71-39% 29/62-47%
Three Pointers 7/26-27% 13/33-39%
Free Throws 10/15-67% 16/21-76%
Offensive Rebounds 18 6
Defensive Rebounds 30 28
Rebounds 55 36
Blocks 3 5
Steals 4 6
Turnovers 13 9
Personal Fouls 16 16
Technical Fouls 0 1
Ejections 0 0

2018-19 Reg Season - Buff Leads Series 2-1

Date Result Away Pts Ldr Home Pts Ldr
Fri Feb 1 Buff 88 @ BGSU 92 D. Caruthers 28 D. Frye 25
Fri Mar 8 BGSU 73 @ Buff 84 J. Turner 17 N. Perkins 22
Sat Mar 16 BGSU 73 @ Buff 87 D. Plowden 16 J. Harris 31

Game Information

Stadium: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Attendance: 7,813
Game Time: