By Paul Gotham
BUFFALO, N.Y. — It took a career night, a savvy late play and a video review, but Bobby Hurley‘s University of Buffalo Bulls grabbed an opening night victory.
Justin Moss notched a career highs in points and rebounds as UB outlasted the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, 69-67 at Alumni Arena.
Moss poured in a game-high 25 points and grabbed 13 rebounds.
“Certainly a breakout game for Justin Moss,” Hurley said. “I’m really happy for him. He’s been terrific in practice on a consistent basis. I’m not really surprised with the numbers he put up tonight.”
The junior forward scored nine in a pivotal 13-2 run midway through the second half.
“Justin is unique because he’s got a good feel for the game 15-17 feet from the basket,” Hurley commented. “He can step away, and he’s got a quick first step, and he can also shoot. So he’s a matchup problem. He’s very physical inside. He can score on you in a number of ways.”
Down seven, Moss connected on a baseline jump hook. Rodell Wigginton kept the Bulls within five with a dunk, and Moss converted pairs of free throws on consecutive trips down the floor. Freshman Lamonte Bearden hit a leaner to give UB the lead at 48-47. Moss stretched the advantage to four with a three-point play on a rebound, putback and free throw. UB led 51-47.
“My teammates, Shannon Evans and Lamonte Bearden found me on a number of occasions,” Moss said. “They’re good point guards. We connect on and off the court.”
The Bulls eventually stretched the advantage to six, but the Jackrabbits scratched back.
“They’re a fundamental team. They’re well-coached,” Hurley stated. “They’ve been in the NCAA tournament, so they have the tradition…We knew it would be a real challenge.”
Jake Bittle used a ball fake at the free throw line to set up a drive in the lane and finish for a 66-65 SDSU edge with 58.7 on the clock.
After a timeout, Jarryn Skeete gave UB a lead it never surrendered at 67-66 when he took an inbound pass and sliced to the basket for a layup. UB’s defense extended on the next play. Skeete stole a pass and led Evans to the basket.
“Our defensive �possession was tremendous,” Hurley said noting the play of Will Regan.
“Staying there with (Deondre) Parks on the drive,” Hurley said. “Even though he didn’t have a great offensive game, he made a big, clutch defensive play with Shannon, and then Skeete was in the right position to make that steal. We really needed a stop to win the game. It’s the underrated plays like that that a guy like Will can make. Late in the game after he didn’t have a lot of impact offensively, a lot of guys can’t do that.”
Evans was fouled on the play and converted one of two free throws.
On the ensuing down the floor, Evans lunged out of bounds to grab a loose ball and threw it back on the court. The ball deflected off a leg and bounced over the line. Officials originally gave SDSU possession with 9.1 remaining. Video review showed a different result, and UB was awarded the ball.
“I seen it go off South Dakota,” Evans said. “It went off his foot.”
Evans made it a three-point game when he made another from the charity stripe.
Not wanting to give the Jackrabbits a chance to tie the game, Evans fouled Deondre Parks at half court with 2.4 remaining.
The Bulls won despite shooting 22-68 (32.4 percent) from the floor including 1-9 behind the arc.
“It wasn’t our cleanest offense performance,” Hurley noted. “I think it’s a testimony to how hard our players practice and the emphasis being on our defense and our rebounding…Our offense, like last year, is a work in process. I think it’ll continue to get better as the year progresses.”
South Dakota State took its largest lead of the game at eight early in the second half. The Jackrabbits opened the floor in the half-court with high ball screens. Once in the lane SDSU ballhandlers distributed to open teammates on the perimeter. The movement created gaps in the UB interior.
“We didn’t get great hedging a couple of times on the ball screens,” Hurley explained. “They were able to turn the corner and kick it out. Sometimes, we stayed a little bit too long, and twenty-four (Zach Horstman) hit a couple of threes on us. Just late getting back to him. They make the right plays and the appropriate passes.”
Cody Larson finished an inbound pass with a dunk. Bittle scored on back-to-back possessions, and Parks hit a leaner in the lane to give SDSU a 41-33 lead.
Larson led all players with 15 rebounds. The University of Florida transfer notched a double-double netting 15 points.
Horstman also contributed a double-double with 13 points and a dozen boards.
Bittle led the Jackrabbits with 16. Skyler Flatten added 11.
Evans chipped in 17 for UB.
The Bulls outrebounded their counterparts, 48-46.
Bearden dished out a game-high six assists while committing just one turnover.
The Bulls travel to Kentucky to take on the number-one ranked Wildcats, Sunday. The game will be televised on ESPNU. A noon tipoff is scheduled.
South Dakota State travels to Idaho for a 7 p.m. tipoff, Monday.
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