Recap: Buffalo vs. Central Mich

Buffalo, NY (Sports Network) - Javon McCrea registered 21 points, eight rebounds, four blocks and three steals as the eighth-seeded Buffalo Bulls outlasted the ninth-seeded Central Michigan Chippewas in overtime, 74-72, in the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament at Alumni Arena.

Will Regan netted 15 points and hauled in eight boards for Buffalo (13-19), which will face off against fifth-seeded Ball State in the second round on Wednesday. Tony Watson shot just 1-of-10 from 3-point range but still finished with 14 points and six assists, while Raph Thomas-Edwards added 10 points off the bench for the hosts.

For CMU (12-18), Kyle Randall shot 10-of-20 from the field and 8-of-8 from the free-throw line for 31 points, his second consecutive 30-plus-point performance. Chris Fowler was also stellar with 13 points, nine assists and five steals.

Buffalo carried a 30-26 lead into intermission after shooting 44.4 percent from the field in the first half, while CMU shot less than 40 percent.

The Chippewas opened the second half up on an 8-2 run to take the lead less than three minutes in. The squads remained within a possession of one another for most of the half until the Bulls pieced together a 10-2 surge to take a 65-58 advantage with 3:18 left to play. Buffalo led by three in the final minute before Randall drilled a 3-pointer with 21 seconds left to force overtime.

In the extra session, McCrea drained a jumper on Buffalo's first possession and it led the rest of the way.

Buffalo won the rebounding battle, 41-31.