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UB dropped an 83-74 decision at Troy State on Thursday after leading the Trojans 69-64 with less than 3 minutes to play and rallying from a 39-34 halftime deficit. But the Bulls were held scoreless in their next six possessions as Troy State started their final rally, scoring the next 15 points to lead 79-69.

Rasaun Young led the Bulls with 25 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Young nailed 11 of his 20 field goal attempts. Mike Martinho and Matt Clemens added 13 and 12 points respectively. All five Troy State starters scored in double figures.

The Bulls used a pair of buzzer beaters against Missouri-Kansas City, but couldn't come up with a third as they fell to the Kangaroos 85-74 in double overtime. The Bulls rallied from a 46-35 deficit with 10 minutes remaining in regulation. With eight seconds left and UMKC leading 60-57, the Bulls got their first buzzer beater of the night as reserve guard Chandon Jones nailed a three-pointer to send the contest into overtime.

UB came back with a second buzzer beater five minutes later to force the second OT as Bernard Wheeler's layup tied the contest at 67-67 after the Bulls had trailed by four earlier in the extra session.

In the second overtime, UMKC started to pull away, hitting their free throws as the Bulls were forced to foul in order to stop the clock. UB was held scoreless over the first four minutes of the second overtime as the Kangaroos built a nine-point lead.

Again, Young led the Bulls with 21 points, playing 47 of a possible 50 minutes in the game. Martinho added 15 and Scott McMillin registered a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. UB shot just 8-of-21 from the free throw line and were 10-of-42 behind the three-point line.

The Bulls were on the road again at Youngstown State on Wednesday. They host Northeastern Illinois and Chicago State in the final home games of the season on Saturday and Monday nights.

ROYALS FALTER AT TROY, REBOUND IN KANSAS CITY
The Royals split two games over the weekend, but got help in the Mid-Continent Conference race in the important battle for the top seeds in next month's league tournament at UB.

On Thursday, UB fell 87-80 at Troy State. Brenna Doty scored 25 points against the Trojans, connecting on six three-pointers in the game. Charissa Gardner and LaToya Crumpton also added 15 points for the Royals. Crumpton's 15 was a season-high as she hit seven of her nine field goal attempts in the contest. Troy State's inside combination of Mandee Armstrong (34) and Samantha Tomlinson (25) did most of the damage to the Royals, scoring 59 of the Trojans' 87 points. Armstrong was 16-of-22 from the floor, while Tomlinson hit 12-of-14 at the free throw line and grabbed 11 rebounds. A key to the contest proved to be free throw shooting as the Royals made 15-of-21 and were whistled for 24 fouls, while Troy State made 22-of-29 and committed just 16 personals.

UB rebounded with a 73-58 victory over Missouri-Kansas City on Saturday as the Royals blistered the Roos for 53.7 percent field goal shooting in the game. Kim Coon came off the bench to net a team-high 23 points on 9-of-14 field goal shooting and 4-of-5 from behind the three-point line. Doty was the only other Royal in double figures with 15. Gardner, Crumpton and Nicole Blakeslee each grabbed six rebounds for UB.

While the Royals were handling UMKC, the team got good news concerning the conference race. Troy State defeated league leader Youngstown State 81-80, while third place Northeastern Illinois was forced to forfeit to Valparaiso because the Golden Eagles showed up at the Valpo gym four hours after the scheduled game time.

Doty also earned recognition from the Mid-Continent Conference as its January Female Athlete of the Month. Doty led the Royals to a 6-2 January record, averaging 18.9 points while shooting 44.3 percent from the floor, 47.1 percent from three-point range and 91.7 percent at the free throw line.

The Royals headed into their game Monday against Youngstown State just a game behind the Penguins. It begins an important three-game homestand for the Royals as they host Northeastern Illinois on Saturday and Chicago State on Monday.

WRESTLING
Coach Jim Beichner's wrestlers improved to 8-2-2, defeating Bucknell 20-11 in Lewisburg, Pa., on Saturday. The win also moved the Bulls to 3-1-1 in the East Coast Wrestling Association.

The Bulls picked up a victory from John Stutzman at 150 pounds as the senior moved into third place on the all-time takedowns list. Also taking wins for UB were seniors Eric Gross at 167 and Jason Wartinger at 126.

UB hosts ECWA foes Boston University and Hofstra in the final home dual matches of the season on Saturday at Alumni Arena. The Bulls square off with the Terriers at noon and then take on the Flying Dutchmen at 2 p.m.

MEN'S SWIMMING
UB's men's swimming and diving squad fell to Cleveland State 143-110 and Miami of Ohio 154-88 in Cleveland on Saturday. The Bulls are now 4-5 in dual meet competition.

John Nilles took the 50 freestyle for the Bulls in 21.98, while Korry Miller was again victorious in the 200 backstroke in 1:52.15. Josh Pieczonka finished second in the 100 freestyle at 48.08 while the 400-freestyle relay squad of Nilles, Pieczonka, Jose Moncion and Mark Horgan placed second in their race at 3:11.05.

The Bulls host the Mid-Continent Conference Swimming and Diving Championships at Alumni Arena on Feb. 20-22. Preliminary races begin at 11 a.m. each day with the championship finals starting at 7 p.m.

WOMEN'S SWIMMING
The Royals fell to Toledo 148-76 to finish their dual meet mark at 4-4. The Royals were led by Sue Bohnel's double victory in the 200 IM (2;14.71) and 200 breaststroke (2:30.78). Carrie Grant had a pair of second place finishes in the 200 freestyle (2:00.29) and 100 freestyle (55.43).

The Royals host the Mid-Continent Conference Swimming and Diving Championships at Alumni Arena on Feb. 20-22. Preliminary races begin at 11 a.m. each day, with the championship finals starting at 7 p.m.

INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
The men's and women's squads competed at Colgate's Class of '32 Invitational over the weekend. The Royals finished second with 115 points to Albany's 130 in the seven-team women's meet. The Bulls scored 51 points to place fifth in a nine-team men's field.

Junior Lisa Kragbe set a school record for the Royals, placing second in the 400 meters in 57.9. Kragbe broke the old mark of 59.0 set by Maureen Tillman in 1989. The Royals' distance-medley relay squad was also victorious. For the Bulls, Neil Murray captured the pole vault competition at 15-1.

Meanwhile, Terry Scherne took the Cornell Pentathlon with a school record 3,446 points. The junior broke the old school record of 3,130 points set last season by Merna Morris.

Both squads now prepare for this weekend's Mid-Continent Conference Indoor Championships hosted by Western Illinois. Last season, the Royals finished second to Youngstown State in the team standings as Stacey Strothmann earned Mid-Con Athlete of the Year honors. The Bulls placed third in last season's meet and should be expected to move up this season with the departure of league champion Eastern Illinois to the Ohio Valley Conference.

MEN'S & WOMEN'S TENNIS
The Royals spring tennis season began last week as the team competed in the Cornell Invitational in Ithaca.

Darcy Wheeler earned a victory in the consolation round of the tournament, downing St. Bonaventure's Rebecca Bettin 8-4 after dropping her opening match 6-0, 6-1 to Stephanie Chase of Army in the C singles flight.

In doubles play, the team of Danielle Rakowsky and April Kiser defeated St. Bonaventure tandem Sara Mortimer and Tracey Barry 8-6 in the opening round of the B doubles flight. The pair were eliminated in the next round by a team from Massachusetts 8-1.

Coach Kathy Twist's squad is back in action this weekend as they travel for the Pittsburgh Invitational on Feb. 14-16.

The Bulls also opened their season at the Cornell Invitational as Mike Proulx advanced to the consolation finals losing to St. Bona-venture's J.P. Gingras 8-2. Proulx was 2-2 playing at the number two singles slot.

Wibisono Murdono also advanced in consolation play, falling in the semifinals of the bracket at number three singles to Zach Kaplan of Colgate 8-0.

The team of Travis Melnik and Joe Hamilton took their first round match at third doubles. The pair were defeated in the second round by a duo from Cornell 8-1.

Coach Russ Crispell's team is in action on Saturday when they face St. Bonaventure and Cornell in Olean.

­ Ted Wasko, Sports Information Office