BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Javon McCrea scored 18 points to lead four Buffalo players in double figures as the Bulls held off Saint Peter’s 72-65 on Friday night in the season opener for both teams.
Dave Barnett scored 13, Mitchell Watt had 12 and Zach Filzen added 11 for Buffalo.
The Bulls led by as many as 14 in the first half, building the lead to 52-34 with 12:27 to play,
Paced by Chris Prescott with 23 points, Saint Peter’s chipped away, cutting the margin to 65-61 with 53 seconds to play. Buffalo hit 7 of 8 from the free-throw line from that point to hold on as the Peacocks made only 1 of 5 field goals.
Both teams finished 20-14 last season.
The Bulls, who lead the series 3-0, won the last meeting 77-75 in overtime on a buzzer beater in an ESPN BracketBusters game on Feb. 20, 2010.
