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The Bulls trailed Valpo by 15 points with nine minutes left on Saturday before Rasaun Young and a crowd of 5,284 rallied UB to a thrilling finish. Young had 18 of his 22 points in the second half-including 12 in the final 10 minutes to lead the Bulls' charge. Young's desperation heave from just inside half-court bounded off the backboard and off the front rim at the buzzer as Buffalo fell to 11-8 overall and 6-3 in the conference.

Mike Martinho added 11 points and three assists for the Bulls while guard Bernard Wheeler sparked the team off the bench with eight points, two assists and two steals in 21 minutes of action. Senior tri-captain Tati Hadavi had one of the finest games of his career as well, scoring five points and adding seven rebounds while matching his career-high of 19 minutes.

The Bulls again held Bryce Drew (14 points) well below his average, but Tony Vilcinskas (16 points), Chris Artis (15 points) and Jamie Sykes (11 points) were all in double figures for Valpo.

ROYALS ROLL BY VALPARAISO
The Royals shot better than 50 percent and limited Valparaiso to just 25.9 field goal shooting in a 69-49 win over the Crusaders at Alumni Arena on Saturday.

UB jumped out to a quick 18-3 lead over the first seven and a half minutes as Brenna Doty scored seven points during the opening run. The Royals held Valpo to just 6-of-26 shooting (23.1 percent) in the first half as they took a 30-23 lead into halftime.

Early in the second half, the Crusaders started to make a game of it, moving to within two at 30-28 with 17:40 to go as Mo Drabicki converted off a UB turnover and Sarrah Stricklett hit a free throw. However, that's as close as Valpo got as UB then turned up the defensive pressure and bettered their second-half shooting to comfortably move ahead, taking as much as a 22-point lead late in the contest.

Doty scored 24 to lead the way for the Royals, while Kim Coon added 10. Senior Alicia Kollmorgen pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds (eight in the first half) as the Royals controlled the boards 41-31. Catherine Jacob added seven assists and four steals from her point-guard position.

With the win, the Royals moved into a second-place tie with Troy State at 7-2 in Mid-Continent Conference play. First place Troy State was upset by Missouri-Kansas City 69-68 earlier in the day.

UB hits the road for a pair of conference clashes at Troy State on Thursday and UMKC on Saturday. The Royals return home on Monday to renew their rivalry with Youngstown State. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.

WRESTLERS TAKE THREE IN PENNSYLVANIA
The Bulls swept three matches at Wilkes University on Sunday to raise their dual meet mark to 6-2-2. UB's grapplers opened with a 31-12 win over Seton Hall and followed with a pair of thrashings over Cheyney 51-4 and Wilkes 54-0.

In the match against Seton Hall, 150-pounder John Stutzman saw his 25-bout winning streak snapped, losing a 2-0 decision R.J. Galioto.

Senior 126-pounder Jason Wartinger swept all three of his matches, while George Chamoun won all three of his matches by falls.

UB travels to Bucknell for an East Coast Wrestling Association matchup on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The Bulls host Boston University and Hofstra in their final home dual meets on Feb. 15.

MEN'S SWIMMING
The University at Buffalo men's swimming and diving team dropped their final home dual meet of the season Friday night at the Alumni Arena Natatorium with a 126-115 decision to a strong Notre Dame squad. The loss puts the Bulls at 4-3 in dual meet competition.

Mark Horgan and Dan Hickey were both triple winners for the Bulls on Friday. Horgan, the Bulls' distance specialist, took the 1000 freestyle in 9:42.06 and the 500 freestyle in 4:43.25. Horgan also anchored the Bulls' winning 400-free relay team as UB took the event in 3:12.04.

Hickey also took first place finishes in the 100 freestyle in 47.64 and 200 freestyle in 1:43.16. He also anchored the UB's winning 400-medley relay squad to a 3:30.49 finish.

Also victorious for UB were Korry Miller in the 200 backstroke (1:54.85) and John Nilles in the 50 freestyle (21.79).

The Bulls next action is a triangular meet at Cleveland State with Miami (Ohio) on Feb. 8. UB hosts the Mid-Continent Conference Swimming and Diving Championships on Feb. 20-22 at Alumni Arena.

WOMEN'S SWIMMING
The University at Buffalo women's swimming and diving team took a pair of dual meets last week. UB defeated Canisius 125-76 at the Alumni Arena Natatorium last Wednesday and then powered past Cleveland State 143-84 to move their dual meet record to 4-3.

The Royals were led by Martie Duffett's individual victories in the 1000 free (10:54.35) and 400 IM (4:42.25). Sue Bohnel was also a double winner, taking the 200 free in 2:00.31 and 100 free in 55.55. Diver Andrea Skillman took first place in both the 1-meter (251.10) and 3-meter competition (284.25).

Freshman Kim Theetge set a school record in a time trial of the 50 breaststroke. Theetge's time of 31.15 bettered the old mark of 31.83 set by Laurie McDonald and tied by Cindy Mruk set in 1992. Roxanne Kuba qualified for the ECAC Championships in the 1000 free in 10:59.11. She finished second to Duffett, who had previously qualified, in the event.

Against Cleveland State, Bohnel led the way with a pair of individual wins in the 100 freestyle (56.01) and 200 freestyle (2:00.61).

The Royals close out their dual season on Friday when they travel to Toledo for a 6 p.m. meet. UB hosts the Mid-Continent Conference Swimming and Diving Championships on Feb. 20-22 at Alumni Arena.

INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
Both the men's and women's track and field squads competed over the weekend at the Syracuse Invitational.

UB's Victor Archibald took the men's high-jump competition with a leap of 6-5 (1.96 meters). The Bulls' distance-medley relay squad of Chris Keenan, Patrick Nolan, Ryan Candia and Geoff Warlock also finished first with a time of 10:33.79.

For the Royals, Shelly Hamilton finished second in the high jump at 5-7 (1.70 meters). Stacey Strothmann was third in the 5,000 meter run at 18:10.55.

The teams are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Hamilton, NY for a triangular meet against host Colgate and Lehigh.

Royals and Bulls faced Valparaiso Saturday in Alumni Arena before the enthusiastic support of the UB Pep Band, center. Left, UB's Brenna Doty drives past Valparaiso guard Megan New-comer as Royals post 69-49 win. Right, Bulls guard Mike Martinho squeezes past Valparaiso's Bill Jenkins as Bulls come up inches short, losing 64-62.

THIS WEEK'S HOME ATHLETIC EVENTS
Sunday, Feb. 9
UB Diving Invitational	Alumni Arena Natatorium, 9 a.m.
Monday, Feb. 10
Women's Basketball vs. Youngstown State	Alumni Arena, 7 p.m.

­ Ted Wasko, Sports Information Office

PHOTOs BY DON HEUPEL