CLEVELAND — They sounded so resolute, so determined, so confident after their

opening-round victory on Sunday afternoon. Senior swingman Calvin Betts said he didn't even

want to discuss the upcoming Mid-American Conference quarterfinal against Miami (Ohio). The

University at Buffalo would do its talking, Betts insisted, with its play on the court.

Well, UB's senior-laden lineup was called to the podium Thursday night and froze under the

lights of Quicken Loans Arena. The Bulls had no statement to make. They scored the first three

points of the night. Miami scored the next 17. By the time UB summoned its voice it was

reduced to idle chatter, falling short in a 73-59 loss that ended the career of seven seniors.

The Bulls were game in the second half but, as is often the case following a large

deficit, they were worn out by the time they had made a game of it. Betts was short on a three

with 4:49 left that would have given them their first lead since shortly after the opening

tip. John Boyer couldn't finish off a drive. Sean Smiley, who almost single-handedly got the

Bulls back in the game from beyond the arc, threw an ill-advised cross-court pass in the

offensive end that resulted in a turnover.

The turnaround since early January was extraordinary. Miami's Charlie Coles, the dean of

MAC coaches, couldn't rave enough about UB's play when the Bulls took apart his RedHawks,

73-55, in Alumni Arena on Jan. 9. Buffalo's offensive performance had set a new standard that

night, according to Coles. He said at one point he just stood there and admired his opponents'

uncanny offensive efficiency. Aspiring to that level of offense would be Miami's goal from

that day forward, claimed the demonstrative, turtleneck-clad Coles.

The RedHawks improved as the season progressed. Coles' teams always seem to manage that.

When the clubs met for the rematch on March 4 in Oxford, Ohio, the conference's final bye into

the quarterfinals was at stake. Miami won, 73-62. The Bulls chastised themselves for a

lackluster performance and, after beating Toledo in the play-in, vowed to bring more energy to

the rubber match.

Energy wasn't the issue. At least not at the beginning. Offensive execution was the issue.

The warning signs were there early. Miami used double teams on the perimeter in a style

similar to what Akron utilized in disorienting the Bulls in last year's conference title game.

By the time UB adjusted to the overplay with some backdoor cuts the RedHawks had run off to a

resounding 14-point advantage, a daunting margin considering Coles' club is expert at

dictating tempo while playing with the lead.

Miami further exasperated the Bulls by draining shots from beyond the arc at an astounding

rate. At one point the RedHawks came away with at least three points on five straight scoring

possessions — a conventional three-point play, three threes and a four-point go for

Rodney Haddix II when he was fouled by Smiley while sinking one from beyond the arc. The

defense wasn't bad, but the Bulls were constantly a half-step late in trying to recover to the

perimeter out of their help defense. Miami went 5 of 7 from beyond the arc in the first half,

an unexpected blitz from a team that shot just 30 percent from that range during the regular

season.

Four threes from Smiley had UB back in contention. A three from Betts would have given the

Bulls the lead. But Miami wouldn't miss, wouldn't submit to a final surrender. The RedHawks

shot 22 of 38 from the field, including 7 of 14 from three. They had achieved the offensive

efficiency they aspired to after UB schooled them the first time around.