University at Buffalo
Kent State
Bulls Set To Begin Busy Week At Kent State
1/18/2021 2:48:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Buffalo (5-4, 3-2 MAC) vs. Kent State (6-3, 3-2 MAC)
January 19, 2021
M.A.C. Center (Kent, OH) - 5:00 pm
Bulls on the Air
Buffalo - ESPN 1520
Television
ESPN+
10 Things To Know About Today's Game
1. The Bulls had a three-game conference winning streak snapped on Friday night against Bowling Green and Buffalo looks to return to win column on Tuesday at Kent State. The Bulls and the Golden Flashes split the two meetings last year with both team winning on the road.
2. Senior Jayvon Graves put on a performance for the ages last season in UB's double overtime win at Kent State as he had 33 points in the victory, 30 of those coming in the second half and overtime. Graves enters Tuesday with 1,231 career points just four points shy of surpassing Rodney Pierce (2007-10) for 15th place in school history.
3. The Bulls are in the midst of quite a busy schedule since coming back from pause on Jan. 9. UB is playing six games over a 14-day period. Beginning on Tuesday the Bulls will play three games in five days.
4. Coming off his 19 rebounds against Ball State, junior Josh Mballa added 15 more boards on Friday night against Bowling Green. Over the last three games, Mballa is averaging 14.3 rebounds per contest.
5. After losing their first 16 games at the M.A.C. Center, the Bulls have won six of the last seven meetings at Kent State. Buffalo is averaging 88.3 points per game in their last four games at the M.A.C Center dating back to the 2016-17 season.
6. Junior Ronaldo Segu has scored in double figures in seven of the last eight games, including four straight. He is averaging 14.0 points per game during those last four contests. Segu is amongst the MAC leaders in three-point field goal percentage at .474 and he is also seventh in the league in free throw shooting at .818. Segu is also in the top 10 in the MAC in assists, averaging 3.6 per game.
7. In the latest set of NET rankings released by the NCAA, Buffalo was listed 104th in the rankings, the first time it has been outside of the Top 100. Kent State checked in at 79th in the rankings on Jan. 17.
8. Junior Jeenathan Williams has recorded at least 15 points and six rebounds in all nine games this season, just one of 12 players in the nation to record those totals at least nine times this year. Malachi Smith of Chattanooga and Davion Warren of Hampton lead the nation with 11 games of 15 points and six boards.
9. Despite losing to Bowling Green on Friday night, the Falcons shot just .310 from the field. UB is one of only 10 teams this season to lose a game in which their opponent shot .310 from the floor or worse.
10. The Bulls have recorded 43 or more rebounds in all, but one game this season, including a season-best 53 against Ball State. After leading the nation in rebounding a year ago, the Bulls are back leading Division I this season, averaging 44.56 rebounds per game.
Bulls Set To Begin Busy Week At Kent State
The University at Buffalo men's basketball team will play three games over the next five days beginning on Tuesday evening at Kent State. UB is looking to get back into the win column following a 76-69 loss against Bowling Green on Friday evening. The Bulls are now 3-2 in league play with both of their conference losses coming against the Falcons.
The Golden Flashes have won three straight entering Tuesday night's game, most recently coming away with an 89-79 win at Ohio. Danny Pippen has been named the MAC Player of the Week as he led Kent State with 22 points in the win.
The Bulls have won six of their last seven games at Kent State, including last season's double overtime victory where Jayvon Graves finished with 33 points in the win. Over the next five days the Bulls will play at Kent State on Tuesday, home against Eastern Michigan on Thursday and at Northern Illinois on Saturday.
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 84 games, tied for 21st most in the nation during that time frame. Gonzaga leads the nation with 110 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 76 wins, good for a tie for 46th 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 17 against Bowling Green and now has 1,231 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. Mballa is the reigning MAC Player of the Week. Mballa added 15 rebounds against Bowling Green.
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. Segu finished with 15 points against Bowling Green and has scored in double figures in seven of the last eight games.
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 had 25 points and a career high 14 rebounds in the win over Western Michigan and he is fourth in MAC in scoring and 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 63 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. He is tied for second in the MAC in blocked shots.
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 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. Hardnett had nine rebounds for the Bulls against Bowling Green, including five of those coming on the offensive end.
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.
