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Kenny McFarland's layup with 5.1 seconds gave St. Bonaventue a 67-66 lead. Young then took the inbounds pass, headed up the court and stopped 25 feet from the basket, double-pumped and let loose a shot that found the hoop as the final buzzer sounded. UB had rallied for the win after falling behind the Bonnies by eight points with a minute remaining.

It was the second time in a week that the Bulls pulled out a win on the final shot. Mike Martinho nailed a three-pointer to defeat Niagara 78-77 the previous Saturday.

Martinho's 22 led the Bulls while Young was the only other UB player in double figures with 19. Robert Harris added eight points and eight rebounds while Zaid Alkhas also pulled down eight boards in just ten minutes of work.

"We wanted to go to double overtime, but Rasaun ruined it. He was supposed to go to the basket," joked UB head coach Tim Cohane. He then looked at Young and cracked, "Follow the play next time."

"A guy was coming towards me, so I made an up-fake," said Young. "I just put it up and hoped it went in."

Earlier in the week, the Bulls erased a double-digit deficit to defeat Canisius 53-50 before over 4,000 fans at Alumni Arena. Martinho's 15 points and three trey led the Bulls. Young added 14 including an 8-of-10 performance from the free throw line. Harris grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds and added 10 points.

After the Bulls' Marine Midland Arena contest with Syracuse, UB returns to Alumni Arena to take on Morgan State on Friday, Dec. 13 for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.

ROYALS ROLL PAST LOUISVILLE
The University at Buffalo women's basketball team recorded one of the biggest wins in school history by erasing a five-point second half deficit with a 22-0 run to defeat Louisville, 67-49, on Sunday afternoon at Alumni Arena.

The Royals used a matchup zone to confound Louisville and held the Lady Cardinals to their lowest point total since a 65-51 loss to Illinois on Dec. 5, 1992. The win also erased a 91-42 loss to Louisville two seasons ago, UB head coach Sal Buscaglia's worst loss as a head coach.

"A win like this means everything for us," said Buscaglia after his team improved to 4-0 for the first time since the 1982-83 season. "It's these types of wins that help a program climb to another level. Louisville almost beat Vanderbilt (63-60) ­ which is ranked in the Top 20 ­ and to beat a team that's been to the NCAA's and beat them the way we did, we're ecstatic about it."

The Royals were led by Brenna Doty's 19 points ­ 17 of them after intermission ­ while Catherine Jacob had 11 points, seven assists and two steals. LaToya Crumpton added 10 points and five rebounds while Nicole Blakeslee led the Royals with eight rebounds.

The Royals turned the game around in the second half with a matchup zone that limited the Cardinals to 33 percent shooting for the game and held them without a point for 7:44 in the second half in the decisive rally. Trailing 31-26, Buffalo took the lead for good on a trey by Doty, a three-point play by Jacob and straight baskets by Charissa Gardner.

"A matchup zone is very difficut to do because you have to have real communication and focus," said Buscaglia. "That was the best matchup zone we've run since I've been here and I think that really helped us win the ballgame."

UB also handled Louisville's pressure defense ­ which forced 13 first-half turnovers ­ much better in the second half, turning it over just seven times and dishing out 20 assists for the game.

"We made some adjustments to stop their trap from being effective and were very active on the boards," said Buscaglia. "I was very happy with the rebounding totals (41-40 Louisville); I thought Nicole Blakeslee played an outstanding game."

Earlier in the week, Kim Coon's career-best 26 points, including 18 in the first half, powered the Royals past Siena 85-71 on Dec. 4. Doty, playing in front of her hometown fans, scored 17 points. Jacob added 15 points and Gardner took rebounding honors with eight.

After their Mid-Continent Conference opener with Central Connecticut State at Marine Midland Arena on Dec. 10, the Royals travel to Syracuse for a Dec. 21 contest and participate in the St. Joseph's Hawks Classic on Dec. 28-29 facing powerful Kansas in the first round.

MEN'S SWIMMING
The Bulls traveled to the Notre Dame Invitational over the weekend, where they competed against some of the stiffest competition they have faced all season.

UB picked up victories from freshman Dan Hickey in the 200 freestyle, winning the race in 1:40.92, just a half second off the meet record. Korry Miller again was victorious in the backstroke, taking the 100-yard event in 52.08. Mark Horgan placed second in the 500 free in 4:39.62, with Hickey taking third in 4:41.82.

Coach Budd Termin's squad now takes the exam and winter break off as they prepare for their next meet, a Jan. 4 date with Canisius at 1:00 p.m.

WOMEN'S SWIMMING
Coach Dorsi Raynolds' Royals finished third at last weekend's Eastern Michigan Invitational. Denison edged Oakland University for the 922.5-900.5, while the Royals were next at 671.5, ahead of the host Eagles' 521.5 points.

Andrea Skillman recorded a second place finish in the 3-meter diving competition with 411.45 points. Martie Duffett was second in the 400 Individual Medley in 4:39.67. Alexandra Barrera was third in the 1650 freestyle in 17:57.96.

The Royals are now off until Jan. 11 when they travel to the Sun Classic Invitational. UB hosts Canisius in their next dual meet action on Jan. 18.

INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
UB's men's and women's indoor track and field squads opened their 1996-97 season on Saturday with some strong performances at the Cornell Relays.

Two Royals set school records at Saturday's event. Ruth Conlon, who transferred from Virginia Commonwealth, shattered the school record and reached a provisional qualifying distance in winning the 20-pound weight throw at 51-6. The previous mark was set last season with a toss of 39-6.75. Terry Scherne also set a school record for the Royals winning the long jump at 18-2.5.

For the Bulls, the quartet of Matt Streng, Ryan Candia, Spencer Bell and Geoff Warlock combined to take the 1600 relay in 3:24.

Both teams now take the rest of the month off and return to action Jan. 10 at Western Ontario.

WRESTLING
The Bulls finished second of 13 schools at the RIT Invitational over the weekend. UB scored 134.5 total points to first place Kent State's 155.

Three Bulls earned first-place finishes as Jason Wartinger at 126 pounds, John Stutzman at 150 and Eric Gross at 177 each took individual titles with perfect 4-0 marks. Brian Schaal earned a second-place finish, falling in the finals of the 118 pound class.

UB is back in action on Dec. 29 and 30 at the Sunshine Open in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

­ Ted Wasko, Sports Information Office