It was another game that in a heartbeat turned from potentially season-saving to simply

distressing for the University at Buffalo.

The close, pulsating victories that came a year ago are going the other way for UB, this

time a 27-24 setback to Ohio University in — what else? — the final minutes.

This time, the emotional slap in the face came on the Bulls' last possession when

quarterback Zach Maynard attempted a pass to Marcus Rivers (Lackawanna). The ball tipped off

Rivers' hands and into Ohio safety Shannon Ballard's.

Game over. UB losses in the last minute. Again.

"We just have to learn how to finish and we have to make the plays when we need to make

them," UB coach Turner Gill said. "That's a sign of a team that knows how to finish."

The interception happened just minutes after the Bobcats took the lead on a Matt Weller 47-

yard field goal with 1:25 left. Then with UB on the Ohio 33 on third down, Ballard picked the

rebound off Rivers' fingertips.

"Every Wednesday we do tip drills," Ballard said. "It was muscle memory and I just focused

in. ... I was happy. It was good and I wanted to go home. No overtime, I don't like those

games."

The Bulls (3-7, 1-5 Mid-American Conference) will finish with a sub-.500 record for the

season after dropping their third consecutive game. Ohio's hopes of winning the East Division

title are still alive. The Bobcats (7-3, 5-1) are in second place in the division behind

Temple.

Gill isn't giving up on the season but the reality is this is a major disappointment for a

program that was picked by the media to finish first in the East Division. The Bulls have lost

three consecutive games by a grand total of seven points.

"It's our fault we're losing and things aren't going our way," UB senior wide receiver

Naaman Roosevelt said. "Certain plays that we can make better we can do better."

The loss ruined a career night for Roosevelt, the former St. Joe's quarterback playing in

his final game at UB Stadium. He tied his career high with three touchdowns and finished with

eight receptions for a career-best 165 yards. He also had three touchdown receptions against

Ball State in the Mid-American Conference Championship Game last December. Roosevelt's third

TD, from Maynard, covered 22 yards and cut Ohio's lead to 24-21.

Maynard was suspended for the first quarter of Tuesday's game because of a violation of

team policy and was replaced by redshirt freshman Jerry Davis. A source said Maynard was late

for a team meeting. Maynard finished 17 of 36 for 230 yards with two touchdowns and two

interceptions.

With 10:24 left in the game, defensive tackle Richie Smith picked off a Theo Scott pass and

returned it 26 yards to the Ohio 40. Then UB tied the game at 24-24 on a 26-yard field goal by

A.J. Principe with 7:04 left in regulation. It was Principe's 34th career field goal, one

behind school leader Dallas Pelz.

A fumble by UB freshman tailback Jeffvon Gill on the Bulls' opening drive in the third

quarter was recovered by Ohio on the UB 44. Weller nailed a 46-yard field goal with 10:22 left

in the third to give the Bobcats a 24-14 lead.

The Bulls cut Ohio's lead to 21-14 with three seconds left in the half on a 21-yard pass

from Maynard to Roosevelt on a fade in the corner of the end zone.

Ohio started the second quarter with a 48-yard touchdown pass from wide receiver LaVon

Brazil to wideout Terrence McCrae on a reverse that gave the Bobcats a 21-7 lead.

Davis made his first career touchdown pass a memorable one. On the Bulls' second drive of

the game Davis hit Roosevelt down the left sideline for a 76-yard touchdown. Roosevelt became

the school's leader in total yards on the play, breaking Drew Haddad's mark of 3,409.

"All year we've had guys stepping up when guys go down," Davis said. "[Tuesday] was my

night. ... It was a typical Cover 4 zone defense and I knew if I gave Naaman a chance, he was

going to catch it."