Ohio
Bulls Host Ohio In Nationally Televised Affair
1/28/2021 11:56:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Buffalo (6-5, 4-3 MAC) vs. Ohio (9-6, 5-4 MAC)
January 29, 2021
Alumni Arena (Buffalo, NY) - 7:00 pm
Bulls on the Air
Buffalo - ESPN 1520
Television
ESPNU
10 Things To Know About Today's Game
1. The Bulls will try again to play a basketball game on Friday evening as they have had two straight games postponed due to COVID protocols at other schools. UB will host Ohio at Alumni Arena in their first game since Jan. 21 after games at Northern Illinois (1/23) and against Central Michigan (1/26) were postponed.
2. Buffalo and Ohio split the season series last year with both team winning at home. Junior Jeenathan Williams had a then career high of 26 points in the home victory. Prior to Ohio's win in Athens last year, Buffalo had won six in a row against the Bobcats with Ohio's last win coming in Buffalo on Jan. 10, 2017.
3. The Bulls finished with 27 assists last Thursday afternoon against Eastern Michigan, the most by a Mid-American Conference team this season. The 27 assists are also the most by a Buffalo team since the 2017-18 season when they had 27 against Ohio on Feb. 24, 2018.
4. Over the last two games, the Bulls are averaging 55.0 points per game in the second half. After 55 points last Tuesday against Kent State, UB again scored 55 points in the second half against Eastern Michigan. The Bulls shot 71.4% from the floor in the second half against the Eagles, including going 6-of-9 from three point range and 9-of-10 from the free throw line.
5. After leading the nation last season in rebounding per game, the Bulls are again leading in that category as UB is averaging 43.27 rebounds per contest, just above North Carolina. Josh Mballa leads the team at 9.1 per game, while Jeenathan Williams is second at 8.2 per game.
6. Junior Ronaldo Segu has scored in double figures in nine of the last 10 games, including six straight. He is averaging 15.7 points per game during those last six contests. Segu is tied for the MAC lead in 3pt field goal percentage at .500 and he is also tied for fourth in the league in free throw shooting at .852.
7. Buffalo is sixth nationally and first in the Mid-American Conference in three-point field goal defense at 27.4%. Alabama A&M leads the nation in that category at 17.3%
8. Junior Jeenathan Williams has recorded at least 15 points and six rebounds in all 11 games this season, tied with Trayce Jackson-Davis of Indiana and Davion Warren of Hampton for third nationally. They trail Luka Garza of Iowa and Malachi Smith of Chattanooga by one game for the national lead.
9. Sophomore LaQuill Hardnett finished with career high 13 points in the win over Eastern Michigan, going 4-of-4 from the floor, while also adding a career best five assists.
10. Buffalo is currently averaging 82.4 points per game, the third time in four seasons that the Bulls are averaging over 80.0 points per game. The Bulls averaged a school-record 84.6 points in 2017-18 and 84.4 in 2018-19.
Bulls Host Ohio In Nationally Televised Affair
The University at Buffalo men's basketball team hosts Ohio on Friday evening looking for their second straight victory. The Bulls are 6-5 on the season an 4-3 in league play after a 92-77 win over Eastern Michigan last Thursday. UB has had its two most recent game postponed due to COVID protocols inside the NIU and CMU programs, respectively. Buffalo is in the middle of a stretch of four of five games at home.
Ohio has won two straight and will be on the road for the first time in four games. The Bobcats are most recently coming off an 81-58 win over Western Michigan. The Bobcats have played twice since the last time UB played a game.
UB currently leads the Mid-American Conference in scoring offense this season, one of five teams average 80.0 or more points a game, which includes Ohio, who averages 80.20.
Can You Spare Me A Dime?
Buffalo recorded 27 assists on Thursday against Eastern Michigan, its highest total since also recording 27 against Ohio on Feb. 24, 2018. In the win over the Eagles, five UB players had four of more assists as UB had 27 assists on 34 made baskets (79.4%).
Three players had five assists in the game, all coming from the forward position, as sophomore LaQuill Hardnett had a career high five dimes, while Jeenathan Williams and Josh Mballa also finished with five assists.
The 27 assists are also the most by a Mid-American Conference team this season. In the victory, UB shot 74.3% from two-point range, which is the 12th highest shooting performance from two in the nation against a Division I opponent.
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 85 games, tied for 22nd most in the nation during that time frame. Gonzaga leads the nation with 111 victories since 2017-18 season.
The Bulls have a six-victory margin on any other team from the Mid-American Conference as Toledo is second in the league with 79 wins, good for a tie for 38th 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 he is now 15th place on Buffalo's all-time scoring list with 1,248 points.
Slam-balla
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 added 15 rebounds against Bowling Green and he had 22 points and a career-high seven steals against Kent State, tied fourth in school history for steals in a game.
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 nine of the last 10 games, including 19 points at Kent State and 19 more against Eastern Michigan. Segu is averaging 15.7 points per game of the last six games for the Bulls
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. 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 has added 24 points against Eastern Michigan. Williams has scored 20 or more in three of the last four games and he is third in the MAC in scoring and fourth 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 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 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. He set a new career high in scoring with 10 points at Kent 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 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. Hardnett had a career high 13 points in the win over Eastern Michigan, going 4-of-4 from the floor.
Gallion played in 17 games off the bench as a freshman. He had a career high six points against Army West Point.
