Hibbert's Late Heroics, Redden's 24 Points Help Bobcats Down Villa

BUFFALO, NY - Devin Redden scored a season-high 24 points and Jabari Hibbert hit the game-winner with 2.8 seconds left, helping the Bryant & Stratton Buffalo Bobcats down the Villa Maria Vikings 84-82 on Tuesday night inside the Burt Flickinger Center.

Despite being shorthanded and sloppy, the Bobcats picked up a rivalry win over a tough and gritty Vikings team.  BSC Buffalo (13-6) overcame stretches of poor defense, making up for it with key shot-making and timely steals to come out ahead.  Villa (6-10) made 11 threes to stay within striking distance throughout.

With the game tied at 82 with 17 seconds left after a made layup by Jordan Heine, Hibbert used a screen to get to the basket and finish through contact with 2.8 seconds left to win the game.  BSC Buffalo entered the game ranked fourth in the latest United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Division I National Poll while the Vikings were ranked 15th in the latest Division II poll.

THE FAST BREAK

• The game started with a few back-and-forth shots and lead changes before the Bobcats grabbed a 6-5 lead and never lost it.
• Junior Tyrell Mitchell scored the first four points for the Bobcats and Redden followed with the next eight.
• BSC Buffalo opened a 24-12 lead less than seven minutes in after a Taijay Williams made three.
• That was the largest lead of the half as the Vikings got within four one time.
• The Bobcats opened their largest lead of the game midway through the first half 69-56 when senior Mick Snowden made his only three of the game.
• The Vikings were able to chip at the lead numerous times and got within two at the 6:36 mark when Jaylin Rose knocked down one of his four second half threes.
• The Bobcats were able to hold off the Vikings and get the lead back up to six with 1:35 left after a floater from Hibbert.
• Three consecutive missed shots by the Bobcats who scored six straight to tie the game at 82 before Hibbert broke their hearts, scoring the most important two points of the game and two of his season-high 14.

BOBCAT BUCKETS

• Redden was 9-of-13 from the floor and 3-of-5 from three.  He was also a perfect 3-of-3 at the free throw line while adding six rebounds and two steals.
• Hibbert had three assists and two steals to go along with his 14 points.  He was 6-of-9 from the field and 2-of-4 from beyond the arc.
• Range had his ninth double-double of the season, finishing with 11 points and 14 rebounds.  He also had three assists.
• Taijay Williams was the leader off the bench for the Bobcats, scoring 12 points while adding four rebounds, three assists and a steal.
• Tyrell Mitchell was the fifth player in double-figures, scoring 12 points.
• Jason Mixon and Jeriah Williams provided quality minutes off the bench, combining for four points, seven rebounds and three assists.  Mixon added a steal and a block.
• BSC Buffalo edged Villa on the glass (42-41) and on the offensive glass (14-12).
• The Bobcats improve to 4-3 when scoring between 80-89 points.

WHAT THEY SAID

"It hasn't been pretty for us lately but tonight we found a way to win against a team that played as hard as anyone we've seen all year," BSC Buffalo Head Coach Damone Brown said.  "We got some big contributions from Devin (Redden) and Jabari (Hibbert) offensively.  Jonathan (Range) had another double-double for us.  But we need to be more sound defensively and lock in.  This is a chance for us to learn and grow and get better as the end of January approaches. I'm still extremely confident in the players in our locker room.."

UP NEXT

BSC Buffalo will remain at home for a Friday evening matchup with Mercyhurst Northeast at 7 p.m.  They will then hit the road to Boston, MA for a Sunday afternoon game against Fisher College.  The Bobcats took down the Falcons 73-71 back in the season-opener on November 2nd in Buffalo.

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