OXFORD, Ohio — The University at Buffalo men's basketball team missed its chance to

clinch a bye into next week's Mid-American Conference Tournament quarterfinals, but there's

still a chance the Bulls won't have to play a first-round tournament game.

They just need a huge favor from conference rival Akron in order for that to happen.

UB ended the regular season Thursday night with a 73-62 loss at Miami (Ohio). The loss

means the Bulls (17-11, 9-7) will either be a No. 4 or 5 seed in the MAC Tournament depending

on the outcome of today's 8 p.m. game in Akron between the Zips and Kent State. The winner

takes the MAC East title and top seed for the tournament, which will affect the tiebreaker

scenarios for UB and Miami.

If Akron beats the Golden Flashes, the Bulls will be the No. 4 seed and earn a bye into

Thursday's quarterfinals in Cleveland. If the Zips lose, Miami will be the fourth seed with

fifth-seeded UB hosting No. 12 Toledo at 2 p.m. Sunday in a first-round game.

An Akron win means UB is No. 4 because it would hold the first tiebreaker edge on Miami

— record versus the tournament's top seed. The Bulls split with Akron, while the

RedHawks were swept by the Zips. If Kent State wins, since both UB and Miami split with Kent,

the teams' records against No. 2 seed Central Michigan will be used to break the tie. The

Bulls lost to Central Michigan, while Miami beat the Chippewas.

UB had several small leads in the first half against the RedHawks but trailed at halftime,

33-29.

Mitchell Watt's layup 2:25 into the second half pulled the Bulls within 35-33, but the

hosts methodically pulled away after that with Julian Mavunga's traditional three-point play

beginning a 23-9 run over the next 10 minutes. Miami (13-17, 9-7) led by 17 points with 1:45

left. Mavunga and Kenny Haynes each had 17 points for the winners. Watt led UB with 17 points

and six rebounds, while Rodney Pierce added 16 points and six rebounds.