March 4, 2002

Box Score

OXFORD, Ohio (AP) - Juby Johnson and Chester Mason scored 15 points apiece to lead Miami to a 71-60 victory over Buffalo in the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament Monday night.

Alex Shorts added 13 points and Doug Davis had 12. Eugene Seals was a perfect 3-for-3 from the field and 4-of-4 from the line for 10 points for Miami (13-17, 10-9 MAC).

Turner Battle led Buffalo (12-18, 7-12) with 16 points, and Clement Smith added 12.

Each team led by five at times in a see-saw first half, with Miami ahead 27-26 at halftime. A 3-pointer by Battle to open the second half gave Buffalo its last lead before the RedHawks went on a 15-2 run to take control.

Davis started the run with a jumper and hit two 3-pointers to account for eight points while Buffalo managed just one basket in nearly seven minutes.

Buffalo pulled within seven when Robert Brown hit a jumper with 43 seconds left, but then Johnson made two free throws and Mason three to keep the lead safe.

Miami will play No.2-seeded Ball State in the tournament quarterfinals at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Gund Arena in Cleveland.