Bulls Square Off Against Drake in Game One of the Paradise Jam

Friday, November 18

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

1:00 pm EST

University at Buffalo

Drake

Photo by: Paul Hokanson/UBBulls.com

Bulls Square Off Against Drake in Game One of the Paradise Jam

11/17/2022 2:22:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Game Notes Listen Watch

ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands – The University at Buffalo men's basketball team (1-2, 0-0 MAC) will play the Drake Bulldogs (2-0, 0-0 MVC) on Friday afternoon. The Bulldogs come in at No. 4 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 poll receiving 649 points. This will mark the third team the Bulls have faced a team in this poll as both Colgate and James Madison received votes. The game can be watched on ESPN3 with tip-off starting at 1 p.m. EST.

The Bulls are coming off a tough loss to the nationally ranked UConn Huskies on Tuesday evening. In the loss, Buffalo forced 18 turnovers. Halfway through the first half, the Bulls took a one-point lead after holding the Huskies 1-for-14 from the floor. The difference in the game was Buffalo getting into foul trouble. UConn went to the free throw line 28 times, compared to Buffalo's 13. UConn would go 22-for-28 from the line.

This will be the first meeting against the Bulls and Bulldogs. Head Coach Jim Whitesell has also never coached against Drake as a head coach. All-time, UB is 9-8 against Missouri Valley Conference teams. The last time the Bulls defeated a team from the MVC was last Nov. 24, 2021, as they took down Illinois State, 106-90. Junior transfer Sy Chatman, who played at Illinois State last season, shot 9-for-14 for 21 points, including 3-for-5 from three-point range.

Zid Powell is first in the MAC averaging 3.67 steals per game as teammate LaQuill Hardnett is 11th with 2.00. As a team, the Bulls are 14th in the nation in steals per game averaging 12.3, good for the best mark in the MAC.

Heading into the game, sophomore guard Curtis Jones leads the team with 12.0 point per game. He scored a career-high 17 points against Colgate in the season opener. Freshman Isaac Jack has been tough to score on as he has three blocks on the season. His 3.0 blocks per game are ninth in the MAC.

With a win over Drake, Buffalo will play on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 6 p.m. EST against either Howard or Wyoming. If the Bulls were to lose, they'll play on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 3:15 p.m. EST. against Howard or Wyoming.