The University at Buffalo jumped out to a 25-9 lead, fueled by a double technical foul on the Central Connecticut State coach, and cruised to an 84-68 Mid-Continent Conference victory Saturday night.

The Bulls led 11-6 when 7-2 center Keith Closs of Central Connecticut was called for his third foul of the half with 11:17 remaining. CCSU coach Mark Adams protested the call and was hit with two technicals and ejected from the game.

The Bulls (8-7, 5-3) hit all six free throws-the personal and two technicals-and CCSU never trailed by less than double digits again. Mike Martinho led the way for Buffalo with 18 points while senior forward Jamie Anderson came off the bench to score 17. Freshman forward Robert Harris had 11 points and 10 rebounds for Buffalo, which has won 14 straight at Alumni Arena.

Closs, leading the nation at 7.4 blocks per game, had six blocks and 10 rebounds in just 18 minutes of action. Bill Langheim led CCSU with 16 points and 13 rebounds. The Blue Devils turned the ball over 24 times in a game that also featured 48 personal fouls.

The Bulls have not lost at Alumni Arena since a 64-61 loss to Central Connecticut last Jan. 9. Freshman Marshall Freeman added a career-high eight points and eight rebounds for the Bulls.

Earlier in the week, the Bulls dropped a 60-52 game at Eastern Illinois. Mike Martinho scored 12 points while Robert Harris pulled down eight rebounds for UB.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Brenna Doty and Anne Gallagher led the way for the Royals as they defeated Central Connecticut State 84-56 at Alumni Arena Saturday night.

Doty became the seventh player in UB history to record 1,000 career points as she led the Royals with 18. Her performance gave the junior 1,010 for her three years and moved past Lorrie Drennen (1,000 points) into sixth on the all-time scoring list.

Gallagher grabbed 10 rebounds to record 500 in her four years with the program. The senior also accounted for 13 points and three steals. Gallagher's 500 boards rank her ninth among all Royals in that category.

UB placed five players in double figures as Nicole Blakeslee added 12 with eight rebounds while Kim Coon and Megan McCray scored 10 apiece. Catherine Jacob added 11 assists, including nine in the second half.

The Royals held the Blue Devils to just 30.4 percent shooting (21-of-69). UB is rated fourth nationally in field goal percentage defense at 35.0.

Central Connecticut State (2-14, 0-8 in the Mid-Continent Conference) received 12 points from Keara Langston and 10 rebounds from Beth McBroom.

The Royals' win, combined by Troy State's 87-69 loss at Youngstown State and Valparaiso's 64-47 win at Missouri-Kansas City on Saturday, moved the team into a three-way tie for first place in the Mid-Continent Conference. UB was 14-4 overall and 6-2 in league play prior to hosting Troy State on Jan. 29. The Mid-Continent Conference Tournament is scheduled for March 7-9 to be hosted by the school which is first place as of Feb. 14.

UB thrashed Eastern Illinois 79-60 earlier in the week as Charissa Gardner scored a career-high 26 points. Nicole Blakeslee added seven rebounds for the Royals.

WRESTLING

The Bulls dropped to 3-4 with their 20-12 loss at Kent on Friday night. UB picked up wins by Brian Dowdall (118 pounds), Jason Wartinger (126), Rob Pavis (142) and Marcus Hutchins (167). Wartinger earned his victory over Steve Daugherty with a 6-4 overtime decision. The win raised the junior's 1995-96 record to 28-6.

UB is back in action this weekend when they travel to Central Connecticut State for an East Coast Wrestling Association match with the Blue Devils. UB is 1-2 in the ECWA.

INDOOR TRACK & FIELD

The University at Buffalo men's and women's indoor track and field squads cruised to easy victories Friday night at the UB Invitational at Alumni Arena.

The Bulls scored 97 points to easily outdistance Canisius' 34. St. Francis of Pennsylvania was third with 24 and Duquense following at 22.

The Royals totaled 112 points ahead of Duquesne's 72. Canisius was third at 33 with St. Francis (24) and Cleveland State (4) rounding out the field.

Fumu Gakodi led the Bulls, winning the 200-meter dash in 23.30. Teammates Kevin Winkler (23.52) and Terrence Parker (23.91) finished second and third in the event. Gakodi also teamed with Kweli Musa, Chris Bossert and Dan McSherry to take the Distance Medley Relay in 10:53.60.

Victor Archibald took two field events, winning the high jump with a mark of 1.83 meters (6-0) and the triple jump at 12.86 meters (42-2.25).

Rachel Refermat won a pair of field events to lead the Royals. Refermat finished first in the 20-pound weight throw with a distance of 36-2 and won the shot put with a toss of 39-2.

Kerri Shpur earned a victory for the Royals with a mile run in 5:14.57, finishing ahead of teammate Lisa Reaves' 5:23.41. Shpur also combined with Karen Lilly, Megan Sanford and Gretchen Welch to take the Distance Medley Relay in 12:58.34.

Earlier in the week, Gakodi was selected as the Mid-Continent Conference's Men's Athlete of the Week for his performance at the Colgate Triangular Meet where he won the 400-meter dash in a meet record 50.20 seconds and qualified him for the IC4A Meet in March. He was also part of the winning 4x400 relay squad.

-Ted Wasko, Sports Information Office