This week in college basketball /By Amy Moritz
UB joins high society with Rainbow victory
While most of Western New York slept or found itself caught up in International Bowl frenzy, the University at Buffalo’s men’s basketball team polished off 2008 in impressive style.
The Bulls won three games in three days to take the 45th Annual Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic title. It marked the first in-season tournament crown for UB since the 1994-95 season when it won the Pep-si-Iona Tournament.
And so Buffalo joins North Carolina, Duke and Indiana as winners of the prestigious Hawaii tournament while becoming the only Mid-American Conference school on that list
Getting on that list, though, presented its fair share of challenges.
The Bulls got a bucket from Andy Robinson with one second left in overtime to defeat Pepperdine, 72-71, in the first game of the tournament.
Game Two featured heroics from Calvin Betts who hit a floater with half a second left in regulation for a 62-60 win over Colorado.
Buffalo had an easier time Tuesday when it won the championship game over Colorado State, 67-53.
“It was a good time for us to get away as a team and spend some time together as a team,” Buffalo coach Reggie Witherspoon said. “I think we came out of it with a lot of confidence and showed different ways to fight through adversity.
“In the first game we were down for most of the game and fought back. In the second game, we were up the majority of the game and Colorado tied the game with 12 seconds left. How would we respond to that? Then in the third game, we were in control but only after we were down, 13-2. We responded well to different types of adversity.”
Count Robinson among those who are learning how best to respond to situations.
The senior guard won the tournament’s Most Valuable Player honors, joining a list that includes Pete Maravich, Michael Jordan, Christian Laettner and Paul Pierce. He did it by averaging 13.7 points and 4.3 rebounds off the bench.
“It’s been an adjustment,” Robinson said of his sixth-man role. “But the team seems to be doing well with it and it helps. Missing those first three games, I’m starting to get back into the rhythm and flow of Buffalo basketball. It’s more about getting there mentally right now than anything else.”
“I think Andy is learning the value of being able to watch the start of the game from the bench so he can see the tempo of the game,” Witherspoon said. “He’s been able to score points for us and be strong defensively.”
The Bulls closed out the non-conference schedule with an 8-4 record.
Bonnies win on the road
The climb back to respectability is in full swing for the St. Bonaventure men. The Bonnies’ 68-58 win at Central Arkansas on Saturday made them 5-0 on the road for the first time since the 1967-68 season.
At 9-4 overall, the Bonnies have already surpassed their win total from last season.
The Bona bench continues to be a strength as it has outscored the opponents’ reserves in all 13 games. Junior reserve guard Ray Blackburn’s 14 points at Central Arkansas marked his seventh-straight contest with at least 10 points.
This week
Buffalo men: Begin MAC play at Bowling Green Saturday at 2 p. m.
Buffalo women: Look to end a six-game losing skid when they open MAC play with Ohio at 7 p. m. Wednesday in Alumni Arena then visit Akron Saturday at 2 p. m.
Canisius men: On the road for games at Iona Friday at 7:30 p. m. and Fairfield Sunday at 3:30 p. m.
Canisius women: Take a seven-game winning streak to Manhattan on Friday at 5 p. m. and Iona on Sunday at 2 p. m.
Niagara men: Travel to Saint Peter’s on Friday at 7 p. m. and Marist on Sunday at 4 p. m.
Niagara women: Losing streak will likely hit 12 at Marist Friday at 7:30 p. m. but look to end skid at Siena on Sunday at 2 p. m.
St. Bonaventure men: Open Atlantic
10 play at Fordham on Wednesday at 7 p. m. Host Duquesne Saturday at 4 p. m. as part of doubleheader.
St. Bonaventure women: Winners of three straight open A-10 play hosting La Salle Saturday at 1:30 p. m. as part of a doubleheader.
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