Tuesday, February 21
Buffalo, N.Y.
7 p.m.
Central Michigan University
10-18,5-10MAC
35
at
63
Buffalo
13-15,7-8MAC
1
2
F
Central Mich.
14
21
35
Buffalo
36
27
63
Photo by: Sydney Kline '26 - @sydney.kline.photography
First Half Run Helps Buffalo Claim 63-35 Win Over Men's Basketball
2/21/2023 9:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Central Michigan scores a season-low 35 points; Brian Taylor leads the Chippewas with 12 points, Nicolas Pavrette finishes with eight points and a career-high 12 rebounds.
BUFFALO, N.Y.—Buffalo held Central Michigan scoreless for nearly 11 minutes in the first half and took advantage of a 20-0 run to register a 63-35 win over the Chippewas Tuesday evening at Alumni Arena.
Even with the loss, Central Michigan (10-18 overall) remains in eighth place in the Mid-American Conference standings with a 5-10 record. Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, and Miami (Ohio) are in a tie for ninth place with identical 4-11 records. The top eight teams advance to Cleveland to compete in the MAC Tournament, scheduled for March 9-11 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
The Chippewas played the game with only eight players and without freshman point guard Reggie Bass, who missed his first game of the season.
"This game is about guard play," Central Michigan Head Coach Tony Barbee said. "None of our four scholarship players who can play the point were available to play tonight, but we still had opportunities in this game."
Senior Brian Taylor led the Chippewas with 12 points and six rebounds, while sophomore Nicolas Pavrette scored eight points and grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds. Taylor reached double figure scoring for the 22nd time in 28 contests.
Central Michigan turned the ball over a season-high 23 times, went 0-13 from 3-point range and shot just 29.8 percent (14-47) from the floor. Buffalo finished the game with 17 steals,
On defense, CMU held Buffalo to just 63 points, 15 points below the Bulls' season average and 36.5 percent (23-63) shooting from the floor.
After Central Michigan scored the first basket of the game when Pavrette scored on a dunk at the 19:21 mark, the Chippewas went 10 minutes and 30 seconds without scoring. Pavrette finally scored CMU's second field goal at the 8:44 mark.
Meanwhile, Buffalo went on a 20-0 run. Isaac Jack started the run with a layup, Armoni Foster followed with a layup, Jack and LaQuill Hardnett both added layups. A Curtis Jones jumper made it 10-2. Isaiah Adams swished a 3-pointer for a 13-2 lead, Powell hit two free throws, Adams scored on another 3-pointer, and Jonnivius Smith made it 20-2 with two free throws.
At halftime, Buffalo held a 36-14 lead. It was Central Michigan's lowest scoring half of the year.
Central Michigan put together a 12-1 run midway through the second half.
Four Buffalo players reached double figure scoring led by Jones' 14 points (6-12 shooting). Adams finished with 12 points and Powell and Hardnett both scored 10 points.
Three regular season games remain for Central Michigan as the Chippewas host Northern Illinois on Saturday at 2 p.m. Toledo comes to town on Tuesday, Feb. 28 (7 p.m.) and then CMU closes out its regular season at Western Michigan on Friday, March 3 (7 p.m.).
"We've got to find a way to get one win," Barbee said. "We're in position to get to the tournament. Two of them are at home. Of the remaining three, we've got to find a way to get one."
Even with the loss, Central Michigan (10-18 overall) remains in eighth place in the Mid-American Conference standings with a 5-10 record. Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, and Miami (Ohio) are in a tie for ninth place with identical 4-11 records. The top eight teams advance to Cleveland to compete in the MAC Tournament, scheduled for March 9-11 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
The Chippewas played the game with only eight players and without freshman point guard Reggie Bass, who missed his first game of the season.
"This game is about guard play," Central Michigan Head Coach Tony Barbee said. "None of our four scholarship players who can play the point were available to play tonight, but we still had opportunities in this game."
Senior Brian Taylor led the Chippewas with 12 points and six rebounds, while sophomore Nicolas Pavrette scored eight points and grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds. Taylor reached double figure scoring for the 22nd time in 28 contests.
Central Michigan turned the ball over a season-high 23 times, went 0-13 from 3-point range and shot just 29.8 percent (14-47) from the floor. Buffalo finished the game with 17 steals,
On defense, CMU held Buffalo to just 63 points, 15 points below the Bulls' season average and 36.5 percent (23-63) shooting from the floor.
After Central Michigan scored the first basket of the game when Pavrette scored on a dunk at the 19:21 mark, the Chippewas went 10 minutes and 30 seconds without scoring. Pavrette finally scored CMU's second field goal at the 8:44 mark.
Meanwhile, Buffalo went on a 20-0 run. Isaac Jack started the run with a layup, Armoni Foster followed with a layup, Jack and LaQuill Hardnett both added layups. A Curtis Jones jumper made it 10-2. Isaiah Adams swished a 3-pointer for a 13-2 lead, Powell hit two free throws, Adams scored on another 3-pointer, and Jonnivius Smith made it 20-2 with two free throws.
At halftime, Buffalo held a 36-14 lead. It was Central Michigan's lowest scoring half of the year.
Central Michigan put together a 12-1 run midway through the second half.
Four Buffalo players reached double figure scoring led by Jones' 14 points (6-12 shooting). Adams finished with 12 points and Powell and Hardnett both scored 10 points.
Three regular season games remain for Central Michigan as the Chippewas host Northern Illinois on Saturday at 2 p.m. Toledo comes to town on Tuesday, Feb. 28 (7 p.m.) and then CMU closes out its regular season at Western Michigan on Friday, March 3 (7 p.m.).
"We've got to find a way to get one win," Barbee said. "We're in position to get to the tournament. Two of them are at home. Of the remaining three, we've got to find a way to get one."
—CMU—
Team Stats
CMU
UB
FG%
.298
.365
3FG%
.000
.286
FT%
.500
.692
RB
39
40
TO
23
12
STL
6
17
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
4
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
3
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
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