By Paul Casey Gotham
BUFFALO, NY — What started slowly finished with a flurry.
Zach Filzen led five scorers in double figures as the University of Buffalo Bulls trumped the Canisius Golden Griffins 94-59 in non-conference action at Alumni Arena Tuesday night.
Filzen sparked an 11-0 run as the Bulls rallied from an early deficit. Coming out of the under 12 timeout, Filzen took a inside-out pass from Mitchell Watt, drove from the right of the basket and finished in traffic drawing contact. After a free throw, the Bulls trailed 15-13.
Tony Watson gave UB the lead with a catch and shoot three from the right corner. On the next possession, Watson found Titus Robinson running the middle of the floor open for a layup.
Filzen pushed the Buffalo lead to 21-16 when Watson led him for an open trey.
Watt scored nine points as the Bulls stretched their lead to ten before the half. The lefty drew contact underneath and finished a pair at the free throw line. Next time down, Robinson passed out of a double-team to Watt for a dunk. Watt made it 33-24 with a catch and shoot jumper from the free throw line.
The 6’10” forward knocked down a pair from the line, and UB led 39-29 at the half.
The Golden Griffins started the game hitting three of their first six from long range.
Alshwan Hymes dribbled over a Josiah Heath ball screen and pulled up for three. Reggie Groves banked a trey over the UB zone, and Harold Washington penetrated the lane and kicked to Gaby Belardo for a catch and shoot trifecta.
Turnovers were the undoing of the Griffs. The Bulls converted nine first-half miscues into 10 points.
The Bulls showed no signs of a letdown in the second stanza.
A defensive rebound and Filzen found Watt in transition for a layup.
One trip later, Oldham led Filzen into the open for a transition three.
Javon McCrea made it 47-36 with a put back of an Oldham layup attempt in traffic.
The Bulls did not look back from there.
Filzen finished with 19 points on 7-15 shooting from the floor including 4-10 from behind the arc.
“We got our tails kicked tonight in every facet of the game,” said Canisius head coach Tom Parrotta. “”Once we got down, it seemed like we were running in mud. We didn’t have any answers for anything they were doing.”
Robinson, Watt and Watson combined to go 16-17 from the free throw line. Watt finished with 16 and Watson 13. Robinson added 13.
“Their guys stepped up and got some things done to get some separation,” Parrotta continued. “It just kind of steamrolled. They’re good players. They run a fantastic system.”
McCrea went 4-4 from the field contributing 11 points.
Oldham added eight assists and six rebounds.
Dave Barnett had a game-high eight rebounds as UB won the battle of the boards 43-25.
“I commend the guys for coming in and being determined,” UB head coach Reggie Witherspoon said of his team’s effort. “They hit some shots, and we had to stick to it. Our adrenaline was going and running away from us for a little while.”
Despite being slowed by a sore back, Belardo led the Griffs with 16 points. The junior guard connected on 6-12 shots from the perimeter.
“Inexperience really hurt us tonight,” Parrotta explained. “Guys that are in roles that they weren’t last year; this is going to have to be a learning experience for them. It’s new to a lot guys out there from a role standpoint. Gaby is really the one who played the most minutes, and he’s not close to 100 percent. I probably shouldn’t have played him tonight.”
Groves followed with 11 points while Hymes and Washington added 10 a piece.
Chris Manhertz paced the Griffs with six rebounds.
Canisius opens their home slate Friday, December 2nd when the Iona Gaels come to the Koessler Center for a Metro-Atlantic Athletic Conference game. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Truly a dominant performance from UB. I knew about McCrea heading into the game, but it is clear they have plenty of other weapons. They struggled a bit out of the gate, but a team that makes free throws, plays defense, and has consistent offensive threats will always have a chance