The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Buffalo rolls in MAC quarterfinal
Top-seeded Buffalo had no problem dispatching Akron in the early game at Quicken Loans Arena on March 14. David S. Glasier has the story from The Q.
There was a thought No. 8 seed Akron might be up to giving No. 1 seed Buffalo a run for its money in the Mid-American Conference men’s tournament quarterfinal on March 14.
So much for that thought.
In the first of four games at Quicken Loans Arena, the Bulls quickly and emphatically showed why they’ve been the class of this conference since the start of the 2018-19 season.
Racing to an early lead of 26-8, while not playing all that well offensively by their standards, the Bulls disabused the Zips of any notion they might spring an upset and turn the tournament on its ear on Day 1 of three at The Q. The Bulls won, 82-46 It felt more like 182-46. Junior forward Jeremy Harris and the Bulls outeverythinged the Zips, who had done a good job of hanging with Buffalo in two regular-season games.
Harris finished with a game-high 23 points, grabbed eight rebounds and defended fiercely.
The 6-foot-7 North Carolina native has a tall, spindly physique and smooth, left-handed shooting stroke that summon memories of a young Tayshaun Prince at his peak with the Kentucky Wildcats and Detroit Pistons.
Certainly, the Zips had no answer for Harris or his teammates, four of whom joined him with double-figure scoring totals.
Buffalo coach Nate Oats heaped praise on the tournament venue and on Harris, who came in averaging 12.6 points after struggling a bit in February.
“It’s great to be back at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. Jeremy always seems to find himself here,” Oats said, referring to how well his talented wing played last year in Buffalo’s run to the men’s tournament title.
The Bulls rolled past Central Michigan, Kent State and Toledo in the 2018 tournament by an average of 14 points.
In the NCAA Tournament, they went to Boise, Idaho and trounced Arizona, 89-68, before losing to Kentucky in the second round, 95-75.
Most of the rotation players from that team are back this season, including All-MAC first team honorees C.J. Massinburg and 6-7 man mountain power forward Nick Perkins.
Perkins had 12 points and eight rebounds against Akron. Massinburg, solidly put together himself at 6-3 and 195 pounds, added 10 points and a game-high nine-rebounds.
The Bulls shot a serviceable 44.1 percent from the field overall but cashed in only eight of 17 attempted 3-pointers. They were a mediocre 14of-24 from the free-throw line.
“We can definitely play better, but this was a great start for us (in the tournament),” Harris said.
Buffalo’s defense suffocated Akron, limiting the Zips to 14 baskets and 23.7 percent shooting.
“At this time of the year, it’s great to be locked in defensively,” Oats said.
Occasional glitches on offense notwithstanding, this game demonstrated why the Bulls are 29-3 and have spent a MAC-record 17 consecutive weeks in the top 25 of the Associated Press rankings. They are that good. They are the class of this tournament, again.
Reach David at DGlasier@news-herald. com. On Twitter @nhglasier