Sweet Victory: The Game

So, the game.

Wow.

So, Buffalo is very good.  We were better in this time and place and I'd love to match up with them at the Q, but on this night, BG was better.

Buffalo is a good team.  They play so fast and they finish around the rim so well.  This is a really good team.

You could certainly see that in the first half, which was Buffalo's half.  UB led by 11 with 7:45 left.  They were up 12 with 5 minutes left.  They were up 12 with 2:24 left and then BG made a little run to get it to 8.

So, you can look at it two ways.  Yes, Buffalo bolted out hard and was making shots and BG was struggling to score.  On the other hand, UB had a 10-point lead 9 minutes in and then for the last 11 minutes BG played them even, or +2.  The last part of the first half was evenly matched.

BG has done well coming out of the gate this year.  And they did this time, re-engaging the crowd for the remainder of the game.  BG scored the first seven points in less than two minutes of the second half and had the lead to 1.  Game on.

BG had numerous chances to take the lead and didn't. but Buffalo didn't stretch the lead back out either, which is what you're afraid of when you make a run like that.  With about 15 minutes left, UB was up 5 and then BG went on another 7-0 run to go up 2 on an and-one by Laster.

Here's the key to victory and the key to our team.  In the past, you never know what's going to happen.  With this team, with the exception of one possession, UB did not take the lead again for the remainder of the game.  That's 12 minutes with the lead.

In fact, BG was playing really well.  They were up 11 with 5 minutes.  But UB has played in tough arenas, they are not going away.  They went on a 8-0 run to get it to 3 with 2:44 left.  Here, BG had the chance to choke.  To fall into the patterns of the past.

But they did not.  Wiggins made 2 FTs to get it to 5 and then a possession later Turner nailed a floater to make it 5 with 1:14 left.

Massinburg made 2 FTs to make it 3.  BG ran clock and Frye missed a jumper with :38 left. With :28 left, Frye fouled Massinburg but he missed the front end and Wiggins boarded and was fouled.

Wiggins missed them both (UGH!), and Jordan drew a foul on Frye.  He missed the front end as well, Wiggins rebounded with :21 left.  Wiggins made them both this time to get up to 5.

It was not over, however.  Dontay Caruthers got down the floor for an and-one with :14 left.  BG led by 2.

Buffalo fouls Lillard.  He missed the first and then made the second under much pressure, and Buffalo came down to try and tie it.  You can see it in the highlights in the previous post, but Justin Turner put some defense on Massinburg.  The returning POY tried everything in his book, but he could not get free, and he took an awkward shot that missed and BG cleared the board, made a FT and won 92-88.

What a game.  Wonderful victory for the Falcons.

How does this work for you?  Shooting 56% overall...and from 3FG.  Holding the opponent to 45% and 36%.  Winning rebounds 19-17.  Winning turnovers 10-6.  Making 18 FTs to your opponent's 8.

Those are the stats for the second half. BG scored 53 second-half points against the best defensive team in the MAC...BG's best offensive half of the season.

It was an 80-possession game.  BG hasn't been in a MAC game for a couple of years with that many possessions.  UB's formula has been to outshoot opponents, win the turnover battle big and be great rebounders.  They got only one of those last night.  The shooting was even, and UB turned the ball over way more than BG.  They still won the boards--though less in the second half--and BG had a big advantage at the FT line.

That's how you win a tough game.

BG scored 1.16 points per possession, shot 55% from 2FG and 42% on 3FG.  Those are winning numbers.  UB scored 1.11 on 58% and 38%.  Probably winning numbers, too, but the turnovers and FTs were decisive.

It was Buffalo's worst defensive game since the Marquette lost and it isn't close.  The next highest was 1.01 points per possession.

I said in the preview that BG wouldn't outscore Buffalo, but I clearly was wrong about that!

Dylan Frye led the team with a commanding game.  His stats line was great, scoring 25 on 10 of 16 and 3 of 7 shooting.  Meaning he was 7 of 9 on 2FG.  He has 2 steals.  Almost more importantly, though, is that he was at the center of the BG game the whole way, beating UB's guards to get to the rim and finishing, adding energy, moving the offense, distributing the ball.  It was Dylan's game, and he really provided a mature performance.

Turner was effective, too, scoring 22 on 8 of 13 and 3 of 5 shooting, also a really solid line.  He added 4 rebounds.

Demajeo Wiggins had a solid game.  It was up and down.  He's struggling but he did seem to work through it this time against a team with some very solid inside players.  In the first half, he seemed to not get outside and guard on occasions and was struggling inside.  He scored 17 points in this one on 3 of 6 shooting...and 11 of 16 at the time, which is 69%, and added 10 rebounds and only 2 turnovers.

The other player who has to be mentioned is Michael Laster.  He scored 9 in 12 minutes on 3 of 7 shooting.  However, when BG was trying to get over the top in the second half, he provided the points that put BG on the lead.  It was the kind of thing you need out of your bench and he provided it.

So, there you go.  A highly satisfying night at the Stroh. 

One last thing.  We've all been enjoying the ride, and we're not even halfway through the MAC season and all, but I think we can go from believing in this team to BELIEVING in this team.  Anything could happen.

I'm hoping WMU wins today, but either way, BG will have to rebound emotionally in Kzoo.  After the game, Buffalo's coach said that everyone has a target on them, and that's true.  Well, BG is going to experience that now.

Enjoy the ride.