Toronto, ON (Betting Express) - Donald Brown ran for 261 yards with a touchdown and Tyler Lorenzen accounted for three scores -- two on the ground and one through the air -- as Connecticut rallied in the second half to capture a 38-20 victory over Buffalo in the International Bowl.
The Huskies (8-5) won for only the third time in their last eight games after opening the campaign with five wins.
Buffalo (8-6) was appearing in its first bowl game after capturing the Mid- American Conference title with a 42-24 victory over previously-unbeaten Ball State.
The Bulls opened a 20-17 halftime lead at the Rogers Centre, thanks in part to five UConn turnovers, but were outscored 21-0 in the second half.
UConn dominated on the ground, outrushing Buffalo 358-24. The Huskies also held a total yardage advantage of 407-237.
Bulls quarterback Drew Willy threw for 213 yards with an interception that was returned for a touchdown in defeat. He completed 29-of-43 passes.
Lorenzen's first touchdown of the game, a 13-yard run with 4:01 left in the half, pulled UConn within 20-17 heading to the break. A 75-yard run by Brown set up the score.
The Huskies then went ahead for good with 5:22 remaining in the third quarter, as Lorenzen found Steve Brouse in the back of the end zone from four yards away for a 24-20 edge. It was the first completion for Lorenzen, who connected on 4-of-6 throws for 49 yards in the run-dominated offense.
A 15-yard touchdown run by Lorenzen with 4:44 left in the contest extended the Connecticut lead to 31-20 and with Buffalo threatening in the final moments, Dahna Deleston picked off a tipped pass at the goal line and raced 100 yards the other way -- dodging a few would-be tacklers along the left sideline -- for the game-clinching score.
Buffalo grabbed a 3-0 lead on a 38-yard field goal by A.J. Principie with 4:26 left in the first quarter. The Bulls recovered a punt that clipped a UConn player deep in Husky territory, but failed to pick up a first down and had to settle for three points.
Brown answered on the first play after the kickoff, racing through the Buffalo defensive line on his way to a 45-yard touchdown run for a 7-3 lead.
Dave Teggart extended the Husky advantage with a 32-yard field goal in the first minute of the second quarter before Buffalo took control with 17 straight points.
Ray Anthony Long recovered a muffed punt in the end zone to tie it for the Bulls, who then took the lead on a 29-yard field goal by Principie and opened a 20-10 advantage on a four-yard touchdown run by James Starks midway through the second quarter. Starks' score came moments after another UConn turnover.
Game Notes
Brown set a UConn single-season record with his 18th touchdown of the season. He fell 19 yards shy of the International Bowl rushing record of 280 yards, set last year by Rutgers' Ray Rice...UConn owns a 13-4 series advantage over Buffalo, including five straight victories.