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Western Michigan
Bulls Make The Trek To Western Michigan Tuesday Afternoon
1/11/2021 12:06:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Buffalo (4-3, 2-1 MAC) vs. Western Michigan (2-7, 1-3 MAC)
January 12, 2021
University Arena (Kalamazoo, MI) - 2:00 pm
Bulls on the Air
Buffalo - ESPN 1520
Television
ESPN+
10 Things To Know About Today's Game
1. The Bulls will look for their second straight MAC win on Tuesday afternoon as the Bulls head to Western Michigan to take on the Broncos. UB did not show any rust from a three-week layoff, scoring 86 points, including 53 of those in the second half. Buffalo has scored at least 80 points in four straight games.
2. Buffalo has won their last five games against Western Michigan including the last two contests in Kalamazoo. Last season the Bulls had three players score 18 points or better against the Broncos, led by 23 points from Jayvon Graves. Josh Mballa scored 18 in the game, his career high until breaking it at Syracuse this season.
3. Junior Josh Mballa finished with 19 points, 19 rebounds, and six assists on Saturday against Ball State, setting career highs rebounds and assists. Mballa is one of only two players in the nation this year with that stat line joining Hayden Brown of The Citadel. Mballa is the only one to do it against a Division I opponent.
4. Junior Josh Mballa is the first Buffalo player to lead UB in all three categories in the same game since Jeremy Harris in 2018. The 19 rebounds in a game are the most by a Buffalo player since Javon McRea had 20 boards at Central Michigan on Feb. 8, 2014.
5. The Bulls lead the MAC in scoring in conference games only as UB is averaging 84.67 points per game through their three league games. In all, three MAC teams are averaging over 83 points per game in conference games as Buffalo is joined by league leaders Bowling Green and Toledo in that category.
6. The NCAA released their first set of NET rankings last week and as of Jan.11 Buffalo was listed 95th in the rankings, one of three MAC teams in the top 100 of the rankings. Western Michigan checked in at 304 in the rankings on Jan. 11.
7. UB finished with 25 offensive rebounds, the first time they have had that many offensive boards since January 4, 2012 against Buffalo State. The strong game on the glass allowed UB to take 82 field goal attempts, their most in a game since 83 against Toledo on January 8, 2019.
8. Senior Jayvon Graves has 1,1200 career points, 17th in school history. He is 21 points away from 16th on the list.
9. According to Kenpom, the Bulls have the sixth shortest possession time in the nation, averaging 14.3 seconds per possession. The Citadel is first in the nation at 13.8 points per possession.
10. After notching 53 rebounds against Ball State, the Bulls lead the MAC in rebounding at 44.71 per contest. Three UB players are averaging at least 7.0 rebounds per game. Buffalo has led the MAC in rebounding in every season since 2016-17.
Bulls Make The Trek To Western Michigan Tuesday Afternoon
The University at Buffalo men's basketball team looks for their third straight Mid-American Conference victory on Tuesday afternoon as the Bulls head to Western Michigan on Tuesday. The Bulls are coming off an impressive 86-69 win over Ball State, playing in their first game since Dec. 19. Junior Josh Mballa led Buffalo with 19 points, 19 rebounds, and six assists as he was one of five UB players in double figures. Senior Keishawn Brewton scored a career-high 12 points in the contest, while Jayvon Graves and Jeenathan Williams each had 16 points in the contest.
Western Michigan is 2-7 on the year and they are looking to snap a three game losing skid. The Broncos had their lone win in the league come against Central Michigan on Dec. 18. WMU has had some home cooking as they are in a stretch of playing eight of nine games at home with the lone road contest coming this past Saturday at Kent State, an 80-54 loss.
Bienvenidos A Miami
WELCOME TO MIAMI...OHIO THAT IS! The Bulls had quite the welcome to Millett Hall on Tuesday night with a 90-62 victory over the Miami RedHawks. The victory for UB was their largest in a MAC game since Feb. 19, 2019 when Buffalo defeated Ohio, 114-67 and their largest road win since a 100-70 win at Bowling Green on Mar. 2, 2018.
For the RedHawks, the 28-point loss was a margin hardly seen in Oxford. It was the largest home loss for Miami since Nov. 28, 2001, an 87-58 loss against Xavier. In MAC games, it has been 52 years since the RedHawks have lost by as many as 28 at home and that came on Feb. 3, 1962 with a 94-61 loss against Bowling Green.
A Season Unlike Any Other
Due the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this season will go down as one of the most unique in college basketball history. The pandemic, which caused the cancellation of conference and national tournaments last season, has altered the way student-athletes and coaches get ready for each game.
It is suggested and widely implemented that, all Tier 1 individuals, which include student-athletes, coaches, and day to day support staff, must test for COVID-19 at least three times a week on non-consecutive days. At Buffalo, this test is a rapid antigen test. Should those tests come back inconclusive, a second PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test will be administered.
In addition to the testing done by players, all travel party members must wear face coverings for the duration of any and all bus trips. Face coverings are required for the travel party at all times unless in your own room or on the playing court during the game. Buffalo is coming off a three-week pause due to COVID protocols.
Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner
Buffalo continues to be one of the winningest programs in the nation over the last three seasons. Since the 2017-18 season, the Bulls have won 83 games, tied with Tennessee and Florida State for 20th most in the nation during that time frame. Gonzaga leads the nation with 108 victories since 2017-18 season.
The Bulls have an eight-victory margin on any other team from the Mid-American Conference as Toledo is second in the league with 75 wins, good for a tie for 45th in nation.
The Bulls have won 20 or more games in five of the last six seasons, including a school and Mid-American Conference record 32 games during the 2018-19 season.
Bulls Look To Three-Peat
With last season's Mid-American Conference tournament being canceled due to COVID-19, the Bulls still hold claim to winners of the last two conference tournaments. UB enters this season with a MAC Tournament title in site and if they are successful, Buffalo would become the first program in MAC history to win three straight. The Bulls have also won four of the last five MAC Tournament titles.
In order to achieve this, the Bulls will play in a MAC that has a distinctive new look. Gone are the days of an East and West division as all 12 programs will be seeded from top to bottom. The MAC also moved their league schedule up to 20 games this year, the most UB has played in conference play since joining the league. The first round tournament games at campus sites have also been scrapped with the top eight teams going directly to Cleveland.
Graves Digger
The Bulls are led by senior Jayvon Graves who was named to the preseason All-MAC First Team and locally was named the preseason Big 4 Player of the Year. Graves led the Bulls in scoring last season, averaging 17.1 points per game. He was consistent through out the year, averaging 17.2 points per game in conference action. The highlight of his season came in a double overtime victory at Kent State where Graves scored a career high 33 points.
He begins the 2020-21 season 17th in school history in career scoring with 1,080 points, one of 23 players ever for UB to score 1,000 points in their career. Graves set the UB single-season record last year with 479 field goals attempted. Graves scored 20 points against Towson to open the year and finished with a game-high 23 points against Bowling Green. He finished just shy of a triple-double against Mercyhurst with 13 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. He added 22 points and seven assists at Syracuse and now has 1,200 points for his career.
On The Rebound
Junior Josh Mballa had a breakout season last year in his first season with the Bulls after transferring in from Texas Tech. Mballa, who was named a preseason second-team All-MAC and second-team All-Big 4 selection, recorded 308 boards last season, the most in the Modern Era but a Buffalo player and the most by any UB player since Sam Pellom in 1977-78.
Mballa, who returned from a foot injury against Miami, had a career day at Syracuse leading the Bulls with 27 points, going 11-of-18 from the floor. He was even more impressive against Ball State as he finished with 19 points, 19 rebounds, and six assists in the win over the Cardinals. Mballa is one of only two players in the nation this year with that stat line joining Hayden Brown of The Citadel. Mballa is the only one to do it against a Division I opponent.
The Sixth Sense
Buffalo has had a knack for developing sixth men of the year something the Bulls have done for the last four years. After Nick Perkins became the first player in NCAA history to be named a league's sixth man for three straight years, the torch was passed last year as junior Ronaldo Segu was honored by the Mid-American Conference after coming off the bench for all 32 games.
Segu averaged 8.1 points per game last season having a breakout performance against Harvard where he scored a then career high 21 points. Segu also scored 20 points in the final game of last season against Miami (OH).
The MAC Sixth Man of the Year was first handed out following the 2002-03 season. Since then, the Bulls have won the award five times beginning with Mark Bortz in 2005. Segu had a game-high 18 points against Army West Point, while adding four pilfers. He recorded a new career best in scoring with 23 points at Bowling Green. Segu had 13 points and six assists against Syracuse, including a three that sent the game to overtime.
Williams Ready For New Heights
Junior Jeenathan Williams had a career year last season as he finished second on the team in scoring at 11.6 points per game, increasing that to 12.8 in MAC play. Williams, who was named to the All-Big 4 Second Team this preseason, had a stretch of nine straight games in double figures last year. Williams scored a career high with 26 points against Ohio, scoring 20 of those in the second half.
A highly touted recruit our of Rochester, NY, Williams played at powerhouse Prolific Prep in Napa Valley, CA before coming to UB. This season, Williams is reunited with one of his teammates from Prolific Prep in walk-on sophomore Lucas Saleh who joined UB after playing last year at Feather River Valley CC.
Williams had a huge start to 2020-21 as he finished with a career high 28 points and a career best 12 rebounds in the win over Towson. He had a career high five assists against Army. Williams, who leads UB in scoring and rebounding, finished with 17 points and 12 boards in the win over Mercyhurst. Williams added a game high 21 points against Miami. He added 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists at Syracuse. Williams is currently fourth in the MAC in scoring and tied for fifth in the league in rebounding.
Brew Crew
Senior transfer Keishawn Brewton had his waiver approved by the NCAA and played in his first game of the season against Mercyhurst, where he had 11 points. He scored a career high 12 points in the win over Ball State, hitting three shots from behind the arc.
Brewton averaged 14.5 points per game last season at Coastal Carolina. Prior to that he played at Chipola CC under current UB assistant coach Brendan Foley.
Brock And Roll
The Most veteran player on this year's squad is fifth-year senior Brock Bertram, who has been a member of the UB basketball program since the 2016-17 season. Bertram redshirted his first season with the Bulls and has played in 62 games over his career.
Bertram missed all of conference play last year, but saw action in 18 games, making seven starts. He set a career best in rebounding last year, capped off by a career high seven boards against Bowling Green. Bertram also set his career best for blocked shots last year despite playing in only 18 games.
Bertram was impressive in the season opener on against Towson as he set new career highs in points (8), rebounds (12), and blocked shots (4). He had six points and four boards in the win over Ball State.
Fagan Returns To Lineup
After missing all of last season due to a knee injury, redshirt junior Tra'von Fagan has returned to the Buffalo lineup and will look to provide immediate depth as one of the top options off the bench.
He knocked down his first career three pointer in the season opener to 2020-21 against Towson. He tied his career high with eight points against Mercyhurst and had a career best eight rebounds at Bowling Green.
David is Goliath
A pair of David's are looking to make a big impact this season in senior David Nickelberry and redshirt freshman David Skogman.
Nickelberry is one of the most versatile players on the UB roster and can play almost anywhere on the court, but at 6-7 he will be a huge mismatch for opposing guards. Nickelberry played in 18 games last season, scoring a career high six points against Nazareth. Prior to joining the Bulls, Nickelberry spent a year at Trinity Valley CC and his freshman season at the University of Memphis. Nickelberry had a career high 12 points against Miami (OH).
Skogman sat out his first season at UB as a redshirt, but is a versatile big man who can shoot the three. He has a distinguished career at Waukesha West High School where he averaged 18.6 points and 12.6 rebounds per game. He made his debut against Mercyhurst and had four points and five boards. He knocked down his first two career three pointers against Miami.
Sophomores Look To Take Big Leap
UB returns a pair of sophomores who both had some big moments during their freshman campaigns in LaQuill Hardnett and Savion Gallion. Hardnett played in 30 games last year, starting five of them. He led the Bulls in field goal percentage at 76.1%, including a stretch where he made 26 of 27 shots from the floor. His biggest night came against Canisius where he finished with nine points and 11 rebounds.
Gallion played in 17 games off the bench, averaging 1.5 points per game. He came on late in the season and started to heat up from long range, hitting his first career triple at Toledo. Prior to UB, head played one season at Mt. Zion Prep, averaging 13.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game. He had a career high six points against Army West Point.
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