Buffalo 81, Evansville 60

12/1/2007 8:43 PM

AMHERST, NY. (AP) -Sean Smiley scored 14 points, including four 3-pointers, helping lead Buffalo to an 81-60 win over Evansville Saturday.

Evansville's Shy Ely scored a game-high 22 points. Ely was 10-of-16 from the field with five rebounds, but the rest of the Purple Aces continued their season-long struggle from the floor.

Evansville shot just 39.6 percent, and aside from Ely's night the Aces converted just 11-of-37 shots. Jason Holsinger scored 11 points with five assists while Nate Garner grabbed eight rebounds.

Both teams opened poorly, as Buffalo and Evansville combined to shoot 4-of-12 with 14 turnovers in the first seven minutes.

Holsinger's 3-pointer gave the Aces a 15-14 lead, and Darrin Granger brought Evansville even at 23-23 with 3:30 left in the half. But Smiley sparked a 10-2 run and the Bulls held a 37-28 lead at halftime.

A slam dunk by Andy Robinson set the tone for Buffalo's second-half opening 8-2 run.

The Aces got as close as 47-39 before Buffalo opened up a 19-point lead during which Evansville shot just 8-of-22.

Buffalo was 29-of-49 (59.2 percent) from the floor, 16-of-19 from the foul line.