Connecticut 24, Buffalo 17: Chandler Whitmer threw for 227 yards and a touchdown as the Huskies took a 17-point lead and held off a rally by the visiting Bulls.

Whitmer completed 15 of 22 passes and Lyle McCombs rushed for 97 yards, including a 2-yard dive on fourth down with 5:03 left in the third quarter that gave UConn (3-2) a 24-7 lead. The Huskies stopped Buffalo on the final drive of the game at the Bulls 39-yard line on fourth down.

Buffalo rushing leader Branden Oliver, with 2,119 career yards, sat out with a leg injury. Brandon Murie filled in for Oliver and scored twice, including a hook and lateral for 50 yards as Buffalo (1-3) pulled within 24-14 with 33 seconds left in the third.

The Bulls held UConn to a field goal in the red zone on its first drive, then took a 7-3 lead. Quarterback Alex Zordich swung a pass to Devin Campbell for 30 yards on fourth down and Murie ran 4 yards for a score on the next play with 6:12 left in the first quarter.

Whitmer connected with tight end Ryan Griffin up the middle for 36 yards and a score on the first play of the second quarter. Martin Hyppolite also scampered 50 yards for his first career touchdown with 10:56 left in the half.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Huskies did not have a turnover after coughing the ball up 10 times in their first four games. … Buffalo rushed for 141 yards, the first time the Huskies have allowed 100 on the ground this season. … UConn is 16-4 against Buffalo and 19-4 against MAC teams, including 2-1 this season.