Game analysis: Division II Notre Dame College - not to be confused with school from South Bend, Ind. - was no match for the University at Buffalo who used the game as nothing more than a tuneup just before the heart of the Mid-American Conference schedule kicks in. The Bulls never trailed and led by as many as 28 points in their 84-64 romp.
How UB won: Showing up was the key, although Notre Dame did give Cleveland State a scare and actually led by two points in the second half before losing, 77-66.
Turning Point: A little more than five minutes after the ball was tipped, the Bulls led 17-2. It was pretty much downhill from there.
Player of the Game: Big man Cameron Downing missed twice in eight tries and finished with a career best 16 points in 17 minutes.
Cam Connection: Notre Dame's Cam Carlin had 18 points and was 5 of 6 from the field so - combined with Downing - the two Cam's were 11 of 14 overall for 34 points!
Key stat: UB hit 12 of 24 shots from 3-point range. They were also outscored 2-zip on fastbreak points but I'm sure Reggie Witherspoon isn't going to be too concerned.
What It Means: Not much to glean from this one although Witherspoon was able to get some bench players some good minutes.
In the House: 2,162.
He Said It: "For most of the game we got some pretty good shots off some pretty good movement. This is a team that wanted to come in and pressure us and get us to turn the ball over and they did that for the most part against Cleveland State. ... We wanted to be able to handle their pressure and I thought we did a good job at that." - UB coach Reggie Witherspoon.
Up next: The Bulls travel to play Tulsa on Jan. 2 in what will be a homecoming for Downing.
---Rodney McKissic
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