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Top 25 Capsule: No. 20 Buffalo rolls in MAC opener, 74-58 over EMU

Buffalo guard CJ Massinburg, left, goes to the basket past Eastern Michigan forward Elijah Minnie during Friday’s game. Buffalo won 74-58. (Duane Burleson / Associated Press)
Associated Press

YPSILANTI, Mich. – Montell McRae scored a career-high 18 points and Nick Perkins added 15 to lift No. 20 Buffalo to an easy win in its Mid-American Conference opener, 74-58 over Eastern Michigan on Friday night.

CJ Massinburg added 12 points for Buffalo. McRae scored 12 of his points in the first half, helping the Bulls (13-1, 1-0) through a sluggish start against the EMU zone defense.

Buffalo trailed 15-11 before going on a 19-4 run. It was 33-23 at halftime.

McRae’s first-half scoring came on three dunks and a pair of 3-pointers. The 6-foot-10 senior finished 8 of 9 from the field and surpassed his previous career high of 13 points.

Elijah Minnie led EMU (6-8, 0-1) with 21 points.

Massinburg had a quiet game offensively, but he did sink a couple late 3-pointers in the first half, including one in the final seconds that gave the Bulls a 10-point lead.