National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Buffalo 73, Southern Illinois 65
When: 2:00 PM ET, Saturday, December 15, 2018
Where: Alumni Arena, Buffalo, New York
Officials: # Tim Stewart, # Chad Barlow, # Jon Campbell
Attendance: 5513

Nick Perkins totaled 20 points and 11 rebounds and No. 14 Buffalo extended its home winning streak to 17 games with a 73-65 victory over Southern Illinois on Saturday afternoon.

Perkins posted his second double-double of the season and seventh of his four-year career as Buffalo (10-0) remained unbeaten despite shooting 43.5 percent and getting outrebounded 35-26.

C.J. Massinburg finished with 14 points while Davonta Jordan chipped in 11 to compensate for third-leading scorer Jeremy Harris being held to four points on 2-of-9 shooting.

Buffalo also began a season with 10 straight wins for the first time since the 1930-31 team finished 15-0. The Bulls are the first team from the Mid-American Conference to open with 10 straight wins since Toledo won its first 12 games.

Sean Lloyd led the Salukis (7-5) with 14 points while Eric McGill added 13. Southern Illinois was without leading scorer Armon Fletcher, who missed his third straight game with a knee injury, and the Salukis negated shooting 48.9 percent by committing 22 turnovers.

The Salukis lost their third game to a ranked team and lost to Buffalo for the second time.

Buffalo made 11 of its first 18 shots and held a 29-10 lead with about eight minutes remaining in the first half on a jumper by Massinburg. Southern Illinois finished the half with an 18-4 run and trailed 33-28 by halftime on a basket by Lloyd with 18 seconds left.

Buffalo started the second half on a 26-11 surge and built a 59-39 lead on 3-pointer by Perkins with 10:49 left. The Salukis made a slight dent in the lead, getting within 64-57 on a jumper by Aaron Cook with 4:18 remaining.

Buffalo made enough shots down the stretch to clinch the win, taking a 70-57 lead on a jumper by Massinburg with 2:27 left and a 72-61 edge on a layup by Jordan with 81 seconds left.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Southern Illinois   Buffalo
Sean Lloyd Jr. 14 Scoring Nick Perkins 20
Marcus Bartley 3 Assists Davonta Jordan 4
Eric McGill 10 Rebounds Nick Perkins 11
Sean Lloyd Jr. 6 Free Throws Made Nick Perkins 3
Aaron Cook 2 Steals Dontay Caruthers 1
Kavion Pippen 2 Blocks Jeremy Harris 3
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Southern Illinois 65 48.9 3-13 18-22 10 30 6 6 22
Buffalo 73 43.5 7-30 12-15 19 23 6 3 10