A meeting between Buffalo and Central Michigan in the championship game of the MAC tournament seemed inevitable all season long. The No. 2 Bulls were the class of the East division, while the top-seeded Chippewas controlled the West division. Central Michigan won both regular season games, the second of which was only decided by one point. In a likely one-bid league like the MAC, this was the only way to determine who would go to the NCAA Tournament.
Buffalo wins 2015 MAC basketball tournament, goes to NCAA Tournament for first time ever
The Bulls are going dancing.
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Ricky O'Donnell has covered basketball at all levels for more than a decade at SB Nation. He’s currently the Associate Director of Programming.
As is always the case with the MAC regardless of the sport, this was a fast-paced, fun game. The lead stayed between six points on either side for most of the contest, but Buffalo started to take control late in the second half and held on for an 89-84 victory. All five starters scored in double-figures, and the Bulls are going to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history under second-year coach Bobby Hurley.
MAC Player of the Year Justin Moss finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds, but he was far from a one-man show. Sophomore guard Shannon Evans and senior forward Xavier Ford each scored 18 points as well. The Bulls were on fire from behind the arc, knocking down 10-of-22 three-pointers in the win.
Junior guard Chris Fowler led Central Michigan with 27 points. Both teams shot over 49 percent in the game.
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