In the penultimate game of the regular season, UB men’s basketball (4-26, 2-15 MAC) lost 78-66 to the Ohio Bobcats (18-12, 12-5 MAC) on Tuesday night at Alumni Arena. This is the third time this season that the Bulls have gone on a losing streak of at least four games. The loss cemented UB in last place in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) standings.
The game did not start well for the Bulls as they missed three consecutive three-point shots while conceding three straight deep balls on the other end. The Bulls’ scoring drought was not broken until nearly three minutes into the game when fifth-year forward Sy Chatman hit a jump shot.
After a technical foul was called on the Bobcats for hanging on the rim, UB managed to pick up some momentum with a 12-5 run that freshman guard Lloyd McVeigh capped off with a long-range three-pointer. This run cut Ohio’s lead down to 35-30 with 1:11 remaining in the first half. Ultimately, the Bulls never managed to take the lead and later succumbed to a litany of missed chances and the Bobcats’ domination from the three-point line.
Although they were down in the second half, the Bulls continued to challenge their opponents with nonstop energy. Following a successful “kill shot” (a run of 10 or more unanswered points) UB looked to be on the way to executing a remarkable comeback. However, the Bulls’ momentum was once again cut short after an airballed three-point attempt and an easy fast break for Ohio.
Despite the defeat, Chatman once again led the Bulls with 25 points and 8 rebounds. He also had the highest usage percentage on the court at 33.6% and was named player of the game for UB. Senior and fellow forward Jonnivus Smith also performed admirably and set his season high in steals at three.
The Bulls’ season finale is this Friday at Alumni Arena against Northern Illinois (4-13, 10-20). UB will have the chance to finish a disappointing season on a high note. The game can be streamed on ESPN+.
The sports desk can be reached at sports@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Ryan Hagen | UB Athletics
