The AU men’s basketball team closed a season that exceeded preseason expectations with a 78-61 loss to the University of Buffalo Bulls in the first round of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament March 14 at Bender Arena.
"[Buffalo’s] a good basketball team," AU Head Coach Jeff Jones told AU Athletics. "Their inside players do a good job of being physical from the offensive end, and then they started knocking down 3’s … they're well coached."
All-Patriot League First Team selection Charles Hinkle led the Eagles (20-12, 10-4 PL) with 22 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals. Tony Wroblicky was also a solid contributor, finishing with 11 points, a team-high eight rebounds and a game-high four blocks.
Javon McCrea and Auraum Nuiriankh each recorded 18 points for the Bulls (20-10, 12-4 MAC), while Mitchell Watt totaled 15 points and nine rebounds.
The Eagles started off the game quickly, but their early 5-2 edge wound up being their only lead of the night. Buffalo responded with a 10-2 run, and started to widen its lead as the first half wore on.
Leading 16-13 with 11:37 remaining in the first half, the Bulls went on an 18-2 run to take a commanding 34-15 lead with five minutes until halftime.
Buffalo’s stifling defense and efficiency from beyond the arc were key factors in the first 20 minutes of play. The Bulls shot over 50 percent from the floor in the first half and held the Eagles to just 2-14 shooting from 3-point range.
AU’s shooting woes continued in the second half, and the team was outscored 41-33 in the final 20 minutes. The Eagles never trailed by less than five and were down by as many as 19 points in the second half.
This was the Eagles’ third postseason appearance and fourth 20-win season in the past five years. “I think it’s a terrific reward for our kids to make postseason play,” Jones said. “These kids worked so hard and found a way to be a team, so I’m proud that they were able to play another game.”
AU was selected fifth in the Patriot League preseason poll, but finished third and reached the semifinals of the PL Tournament before falling to eventual champion Lehigh University.
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