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The win left the Bulls with an 8-3 regular season mark after finishing 3-8, 3-8 and 1-10 in their previous three seasons since returning to Division I football in 1993. To accomplish that feat the Bulls scored on a 14-play drive to take the lead with 1:04 remaining, only to have to stop Maine (7-4) at the UB four-yard line as the clock expired.

The lead changed hands nine times during the see-saw game between two teams hoping to keep alive their post-season playoff possibilities.

"We've been in a couple of situations in the fourth quarter before and our players have responded, and this game is very indicative of the character of our football team. Our kids have really responded and we salute our 19 seniors who have brought this program from 1-10. It's a big testament to the character of this team. It was as exciting a college football game as you can have."

The Bulls took the lead when UB quarterback Mark Taylor-who threw for 309 yards and three touchdowns in the game-hit Jamie Gasparre from four yards out with 1:04 left. That touchdown was Gasparre's second of the game and 10th of the season, matching the UB single-season record for touchdown receptions.

However, Bob Jameson-who had given Maine a 31-28 lead with 7:10 left on a 14-yard touchdown run-returned the kickoff 42 yards to the Buffalo 48. Maine took eight plays-including a fourth-and-10 conversion-to move to the UB four-yard line with :01 left. Quarterback Mickey Fein's last-ditch effort went off the hands of wide receiver Rameek Wright, who had 17 catches for 173 yards in the game.

"We had success offensively moving the ball especially with our quick passing game. Mark did a great, great job and the receivers did a great job of catching the ball. Our running game was not where I wanted it to be in the first half. We had a big, big drive at the end when the seniors took control (converting two fourth downs en route to the touchdown)."

"This was absolutely the best game I was ever in in myentire life," said Taylor. "It was just up and down and up and down. In the huddle I thought we were very aggressive, yet very relaxed. I don't think for one second the players in the offensive huddle thought we were going to lose that game."

The Bulls got a career-high 147 yards from fullback Todd Pace, including a career-best 71-yard touchdown burst in the first quarter. UB dialed long-distance all day on the Black Bears as Taylor also threw touchdown passes of 60 (to Gasparre) and 87 yards (to Kali Watkins) in the second half. Gasparre finished with 129 yards receiving on eight catches, while Watkins had five grabs for 147 yards.

Andre Pam finished with 143 yards rushing for Maine, who did not lose in the Northern Division of the Yankee Conference during the regular season. Cornerback Steve Blake paced the UB defense with nine solo tackles, a blocked field goal and an interception.

The Bulls have never won eight games as a Division I team, having gone 7-3 in 1968.

MEN'S BASKETBALL
Although they were just exhibition games and don't count in the standings, the Bulls played two nail-biter contests against teams from Marathon Oil last week. UB defeated Marathon 78-77 in the first matchup, while Marathon took a thrilling 102-99 overtime decision on Sunday.

In the Nov. 12 contest, junior Scott McMillin hit a key three-pointer with just 1:38 left to break a 74-74 tie and ensure the Bulls of a victory. Rasaun Young's 24 points and eight rebounds led the way while McMillin added 15 off the bench including four three-pointers. Leonard Tangishaka also pulled down eight rebounds.

In Sunday's game, Young's short leaner in the lane tied the contest at 86-86 and forced the game into the extra session. Young scored six of the Bulls' final 10 points of regulation as he took control of the second half after scoring just three points in the first half.

Young put the Bulls in the lead 96-95 with just 1:23 to go in overtime as he connected on a pair of free throws and followed that with a driving layup with a minute to go to give UB a 98-95 advantage.

Steve Showalter, who finished with 22 points, hit a key three-pointer with 16 seconds left that gave Marathon a 100-98 lead that proved to be the difference. UB's attempt to tie the contest and send it into a second overtime fell short as the Bulls turned the ball over with three seconds left when Young was whistled for traveling.

Young took game-high honors with his 25 points, eight rebounds and six assists. McMillin added 17, while Mike Martinho connected for 16 and Robert Harris had 12 points with eight boards. The Bulls shot an impressive 51.6 percent (33-of-64) from the floor.

Showalter and Kenny Williams netted 22 each for Marathon, which hit 18 three-pointers in the contest. Darrick Leak pulled down 12 rebounds.

The Bulls open the season on the road Friday night at Miami to battle the Hurricanes, followed by a contest at Cornell on Nov. 26. The Bulls christen the Marine Midland Arena on Nov. 30 when they take on Niagara in the first contest of the Big 4 series. UB faces Canisius in the home opener at Alumni Arena on Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
The Royals prepared for their season opener this Saturday with an 88-43 exhibition win at Alumni Arena last Sunday over the Buffalo All-Stars, a group of former Western New York collegians that included several former UB players.

The All-Stars proved to be no match for the Royals as UB took a quick 8-6 lead on Catherine Jacob's coast-to-coast drive for a layup at the 15:15 mark. UB built on that lead, taking command of the contest and heading into the locker room with a 41-24 halftime advantage.

In the second half, it was much of the same as the Royals opened the final 20 minutes by going on a 9-0 run to increase their lead to 50-24. Brenna Doty scored five points, including one of her team-high five three-pointers of the night, to key the run. The All-Stars got no closer than 21 points in the second half.

Doty led the Royals with 17 points, while Charissa Gardner and Megan McCray each added 14. Jacob and Lisette Prinzing added 10 each. Alicia Kollmorgen did the work on the boards pulling down a team-high 10 rebounds in just 17 minutes of work. Former UB star Anne Gallagher led the visitors with 10 points and 10 rebounds while Lalita Grant also added 10 points.

The Royals open the season on Saturday night against Cornell at Alumni Arena beginning at 7 p.m. From there, UB hits the road to face Northern Iowa on Nov. 26 and Siena on Dec. 4.

MEN'S & WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
UB's men's cross country squad finished fifth at last week-end's IC4A Championships as Chris Keenan placed 11th on the course in Boston, Mass., in 31:34. Patrick Nolan was the Bulls' next finisher in 16th. The Royals were 16th out of 22 teams in the women's race. Jennifer Folckemer was the top finisher for the Royals in 18:30.

­Ted Wasko, Sports Information Office