By Paul Gotham
BUFFALO, N.Y. — All he wanted to do was take what the defense gave him.
He accomplished that and then some.
UB’s freshman guard Lamonte Bearden entered Saturday’s game with a career high of eight points. He nearly tripled that in the Bulls 72-57 victory over Canisius.
“I knew he was capable of having this type of scoring game,” said UB head coach Bobby Hurley. “It’s really not his deal to look to go out and get 20 points. He’s more of a true point guard. He was making shots in a good rhythm on offense. It was nice to see him play well.”
The Milwaukee, WI native hit 9 of 13 shots from the floor including 2 of 3 behind the arc for a game-high 23 points. He dished out four assists while getting two steals. And he may be just scratching the surface.
“He’s got great feel for the game and does things really naturally,” Hurley continued. “I never thought until I looked at the stat sheet he had 23. I think things just come very easily to him. Tonight, he was hitting his perimeter shot which he hasn’t done yet or hasn’t shown yet.”
Bearden started the scoring for the Bulls and ended it. He hit a jumper on the opening possession. Then finished with what might be his calling card – a floater. This one came from outside the lane after he used a Raheem Johnson ball screen to get space.
“I’m just trying to take whatever the defense gives me,” Bearden stated. “It’s just whatever the game gives me… I just was hitting shots tonight. It just was a good night for me.”
He gave UB its first double-digit lead of the night at 16-6 when teammate Shannon Evans fed him for a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer. After Canisius whittled away at the advantage, Bearden converted again. This time he put a dagger into the Golden Griffins when he drilled a trey immediately following a missed dunk by the Griffs. On the next possession he corralled a defensive rebound and went the length of the floor for a layup and 30-19 UB advantage.
“He’s one of the best guards I have been around,” Hurley added. “A young guard who just plays with poise and doesn’t rattle. He has really belief in his game and great touch in the paint.”
His traditional three-point play just after the intermission gave UB a 37-24. He went to the free throw line after again connecting with a floater.
“He’s a guy who’s got so much upside, so much potential,” Hurley commented. “He’s just starting to figure it out. He’s great with the ball. He gets guys off balance because he’s got such a great handle.”
Bearden scored eight points in each of his previous four games. Saturday, he made as many field goals as he had in those contests combined.
“He’s very good,” Canisius head coach Jim Baron said. “He’s a lot better than what I saw on film. We just tried to stay in front of him. Even when we did that, he went underneath. He really makes guys better. He really takes it into the paint. He creates a lot of problems.”
UB improved to 4-1 with the win. Their only loss coming to top-ranked University of Kentucky Wildcats – a game in which Bearden handed out three assists.
“He made some good plays in our Kentucky game, getting in the lane against those guys,” Hurley noted. “If he can do it against them, I don’t see any reason why he can’t do it against our competition.”
The Bulls stay on the with upcoming games at Saint Bonaventure (Wednesday) and Robert Morris (Sunday).
“We have to stay true to what got us here,” Hurley said. Got us this record and continue to work the way we’ve been on the practice floor.”
Leave a Reply