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KALAMAZOO - David Kool launched up a prayer from three-point land as the clock expired, but the game-tying attempt drew iron as the Broncos (7-12, 4-2) dropped their first conference home game in 12 contests to the now MAC leading Buffalo Bulls (13-5, 5-1), 74-71, Tuesday evening at University Arena.

The Bulls only out shot the Broncos by three percent from the field (46% to 43%), but 12 percent shooting from beyond the three-point line in the second half proved to be costly for the Broncos, who made 8-of-14 triples in the first half.  Buffalo's bench put on a great showing as well, outscoring the Bronco bench 36-10 and showed great depth as ten Bulls got on the scoreboard.

Kool led the Broncos with 20 points, including a perfect six-of-six from the charity stripe.  However, he shot an uncharacteristic 2-of-10 from three-point land, with both makes coming in the first half. Seniors Shawntes Gary and Derek Drews each scored in double digits, Gary with 12 and Drews with 14.  Drews went a perfect four-of-four from beyond the arc and Gary finished one rebound shy of a double-double.

WMU started the second half on 9-2 run but the Bulls went on a 7-2 run of their own and cut the lead to just two points before a goaltend by LaMarcus Lowe tied the game, 50-50, with 9:50 left in the second half.  The teams traded baskets back and fourth for the next nine minutes, with neither team gaining a lead larger than three points until Buffalo's John Boyer converted the front end of a one-and-one to give the Bulls a four point edge, 73-69, with 23 seconds left in the game. 

Boyer missed the second free throw and Kool got to the free throw line with 14 seconds left and sank both shots, making the score 73-71 in favor of the Bulls, but that was as close as the Broncos would get before Kool's last second three point attempt.

It wasn't until three minutes were remaining in the first half that Buffalo grabbed its first lead of the game, 32-31, when Fedotov Vadim put in a lay-up, followed by a jumper from Max Boudreau to give the Bulls a three point lead, 34-31.  Drews countered right back with a three-pointer to tie the game with two minutes left in the half, but Buffalo guard Rodney Pierce hit two free throws with 42 seconds on the clock to give the Bulls a two-point edge at halftime, 36-34.

The Broncos shot 40 percent from the field in the first half compared to Buffalo's 53 percent, and were outscored by the Bulls' bench 17-5. 

Buffalo's Rodney Pierce scored a game-high 21 points, including four three-pointers, three of which came in the second half.

Western Michigan will look to avenge its MAC loss when it hosts Kent State on Saturday, Jan. 31 at 2 p.m.