GAME NOTES: Still searching for their first true road win of the 2007-08 campaign, the Buffalo Bulls go looking inside the M.A.C Center against the Kent State Golden Flashes in the Mid-American Conference opener for both programs this afternoon. Buffalo has been out of action since a week ago yesterday when they went to overtime before bowing to UNC Asheville in a 101-90 decision. The loss was the third in the last four outings for the Bulls who are now 0-5 on the road. Meanwhile the Golden Flashes, who are a perfect 7-0 at home this season, had their seven-game win streak overall snapped on Wednesday when they were crushed by top-ranked North Carolina in a 90-61 decision on the road. Aside from the setback to the Tar Heels, KSU has also gone down versus Detroit and Xavier this season away from home. With respect to the all-time series between these two schools on the hardwood, the Golden Flashes have branded Buffalo quite a number of times with 19 wins in 22 meetings. The most recent encounter took place a season ago with Kent State posting a 68-64 triumph.

Buffalo led by as many as 15 points in the first half against UNC Asheville the last time out, but the squad simply could not control the tempo and eventually lost the overtime affair on the road. The most telling stat in the game was at the free-throw line where the Bulls had just nine attempts, compared to a staggering 49 chances for the home team. Calvin Betts scored a career-high 16 points and collected 12 rebounds for the Bulls, while Sean Smiley accounted for a team-best 18 points in the setback. Smiley remains the lone double-digit scorer for Buffalo these days with his 10.8 ppg, despite his mere 36.6 percent shooting from the field. Betts (6.8 ppg) has lifted his team-best rebounding average to 5.1 rpg, but that still doesn't make up for his mere nine assists over 12 games. Opponents have now taken 80 more attempts at the free-throw line than the Bulls this season, one of the reasons those teams are outscoring Buffalo by 3.7 ppg.

Not many teams have had a prayer against North Carolina this season and the Golden Flashes were no different when they bowed to the Heels by 29 points earlier this week. Haminn Quaintance accounted for 20 points, six rebounds, five assists, five steals and three blocked shots for the Flashes as he converted a sizzling 10-of-12 shots from the floor in the setback. Mike Scott added 13 points, which means the pair made up more than half of the team's scoring total. Scott leads the team this season with 14.5 ppg and is also first on the glass with 6.7 rpg. Al Fisher, although just a 38.2 percent shooter from the field, is in for 11.3 ppg, just ahead of Quaintance who is producing 10.3 ppg and nearly six and a half rebounds per outing. Limiting opponents to just 63.2 ppg this season, Kent State has been getting the job done on defense by forcing almost 17 turnovers per contest.

A lopsided relationship doesn't even begin to describe how badly the Golden Flashes have treated Buffalo over the years. With Kent State playing so well already this season that trend should continue today.