Bulletin: UB-UConn tied at the half

UB came close to North Carolina in '99 and Pittsburgh in '06. Looks like we're going down that road again tonight against No. 2 Connecticut as the Bulls' upset hopes are alive in Alumni Arena.

UB and UConn are tied at 32-32 through 20 minutes after a first half in which UB led much of the way. UB guard Rodney Pierce has been the story of the half with 17 points as he made his first seven shots from the field and canned a drive with four seconds left to forge the halftime deadlock.

Pierce scored the game's first six points and that gave UB momentum it carried throughout the half. The Bulls led by as many as eight (24-16) before UConn rallied with a 9-0 run to go back in front. The Huskies never led by more than two at any point in the half.

UConn would be in much dire straits were it not for 7-foot-3 Hasheem Thabeet, whgo has 12 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks.

Stay tuned.

---Mike Harrington