Initial reactions from the University at Buffalo’s non-conference win over the Drexel Dragons.
By Paul Gotham
Shaking off the rust
Nine days between games has a way of disrupting a team’s rhythm. UB responded to the challenge scoring a combined 30 points in the paint and at the free throw line in the first half. UB took a six-point edge into the locker room with Xavier Ford (10 points) and Justin Moss (9) leading the way. Ford converted a trio of rebound and putback opportunities. The senior forward came off the bench and contributed four immediate points with a steal and dunk before grabbing a board and scoring.
Skeete’s streak
Midway through the second half UB led by four. At the 10:15 mark it was a nine-point advantage. One possession later, the lead swelled to 12. The only Bull to score during the exchange was Jarryn Skeete. The junior guard connected on a pullup jumper off an inbound play before drilling a pair of three-pointers. The closest the Dragons could get after that point was seven at 61-54.
Finding balance
Five Bulls scored in double figures: Ford (12), Moss (16), Skeete (14), Lamonte Bearden (11) and Rodell Wiggington (11). The Bulls held the advantage in the paint (42-38), off turnovers (18-11), on second-chance points (22-10) and bench points (24-11). The Dragons outscored the Bulls at the free throw line 14-12 and on fast break points 8-4.
Not to be overlooked
Drexel’s Damion Lee scored 24 on 9-of-21 shooting to go with four assists. The junior guard accounted for 10 of Drexel’s first 12 points coming out of the locker room. Trailing by six, Lee hit a runner outside the lane. He took a feed from Tavon Allen and finished before converting a pair of free throws. After Allen got ahead of the defense for a dunk, Lee fed a pair of teammates for baskets. Drexel trailed by three at 47-44 with 14:29 remaining. On Lee UB’s Bobby Hurley said: “He is one of the best players not a lot of people know nationally.”
Thriving on set pieces
When they needed, UB relied on set plays. Four the Bulls’ first 11 points came off inbound plays underneath Drexel’s basket. Will Regan caught an inbound and finished with a baby hook in the lane. Moss took an inbound and went to the basket for a layup. Skeet’s three buckets in the second half came in the middle of a run where the Bulls scored four of six baskets on designed plays. Skeete’s final three of the night came off an inbound where he used a stagger before taking a Bearden lead and drilling a three ball. A few possessions previous, Moss took a an inbound from the sideline, went baseline and finished with a reverse dunk. Two trips later, Skeete led Wiggington with an alley oop for a dunk. A play which Skeete in the post-game noted was the exact set they ran last year when he set up Josh Freelove for dunk.
They said it
Jarryn Skeete: “I was ready to shoot, and my teammates were finding me.”
Bobby Hurley on the play of the backcourt: “We’re moving the ball it’s not sticking.”
Looking ahead
Drexel (2-7) travels to Penn State for a 2:00 pm. start on Saturday. UB hosts Niagara for 7 pm tip, Friday.
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