Buffalo, NY (Sports Network) - Mitchell Watt had a solid all-around game with 20 points, seven rebounds, five blocks and four assists, pacing Buffalo to a 73-57 victory over Ball State in Mid-American Conference play.
Zach Filzen scored 14 and Javon McCrea chipped in 10 points for the Bulls (12-6, 6-2 MAC), who are now riding a six-game home winning streak. They have a 9-1 overall record in the friendly confines of Alumni Arena this season.
Overall, the Bulls have won five in a row. They also got a measure of revenge on the Cardinals after Ball State had won the previous six meetings in the regular season. Last season, Buffalo lost 72-71 on the road as Byron Mulkey's three pointer missed at the buzzer.
Jarrod Jones paced Ball State (12-8, 4-4) with 21 points and eight rebounds. The next highest scorer was Jesse Berry with nine, but the Cardinals couldn't overcome a horrid shooting night. They were 36.8 percent from the field, including 4-of-20 from three-point range.
Conversely, Buffalo made 54 percent of its shots and went 10-of-19 from beyond the arc. Filzen led the way by going 4-of-6 from three-point range. Buffalo, which led 29-24, at the half, sizzled in the second half by making 16 of its 25 field goal attempts.
Buffalo led by as many as 22 points in the second half and held a 13-2 advantage in second-chance points, helped by a 36-24 rebounding advantage.
The Sports Network