Friday, December 29
Buffalo, N.Y.
7 p.m.
1-11,0-0MAC
63
vs
69
Niagara
4-8,0-2MAAC
1
2
F
Niagara
20
49
69
Buffalo
30
33
63
Photo by: Ken Smith/UBBulls.com
Bulls Fall to Niagara in Final Non-Conference Game of the Season
12/29/2023 10:49:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo men's basketball team (1-11, 0-0 MAC) couldn't hold onto a 10-point halftime lead against the Niagara Purple Eagles (4-8, 0-2 MAAC) on Friday evening. The Bulls fell by a score of 69-63 after being outscored 49-33 in the second half.
Sy Chatman recorded his fourth double-double of the season tying his career-high in points and rebounds with 29 and 13, respectively. He finished 11-for-20 (55.0%) from the floor and 3-for-6 (50.0%) from three-point range. Isaiah Adams added 13 points, nine rebounds and four assists on the night. Chatman and Adams totaled 22 of the Bulls' 30 rebounds.
Ryan Sabol recorded six assists and eight points in the contest while going 2-for-2 from beyond the arc. Fellow freshman Anquan Boldin Jr. had a career-high and individual game-high four blocks.
The Bulls were able to score in the opening possession of the game off a Chatman layup. Niagara took a 5-4 lead at the 18:32 mark, but the lead only lasted 20-seconds. It would be Niagara's only lead in the first half as the Bulls consistently held a firm lead. Right before the halftime horn, Chatman made a second-chance layup to give the Bulls a 30-20 lead. Buffalo out shot the Purple Eagles from the floor, 50.0% (13-for-26) to 30.8% (8-for-26).
Niagara started the second half on a 16-3 run to take a 36-33 lead. The Bulls were 1-for-7 in that stretch. The Purple Eagles snatched a 53-51 lead at and never trailed the rest of the way in the final six minutes. A pair of James Graham free throws cut the lead to 58-56, but it wasn't enough to give the Bulls the momentum. Niagara shot 53.3% (16-for-30) to Buffalo's 40.7% (11-for-27) in the second half.
Niagara outscored the Bulls 25-7 in points in the paint.
The Bulls will begin #MACtion on Tuesday, Jan. 2 at Central Michigan. Tip is set for 7 p.m.
Sy Chatman recorded his fourth double-double of the season tying his career-high in points and rebounds with 29 and 13, respectively. He finished 11-for-20 (55.0%) from the floor and 3-for-6 (50.0%) from three-point range. Isaiah Adams added 13 points, nine rebounds and four assists on the night. Chatman and Adams totaled 22 of the Bulls' 30 rebounds.
Ryan Sabol recorded six assists and eight points in the contest while going 2-for-2 from beyond the arc. Fellow freshman Anquan Boldin Jr. had a career-high and individual game-high four blocks.
The Bulls were able to score in the opening possession of the game off a Chatman layup. Niagara took a 5-4 lead at the 18:32 mark, but the lead only lasted 20-seconds. It would be Niagara's only lead in the first half as the Bulls consistently held a firm lead. Right before the halftime horn, Chatman made a second-chance layup to give the Bulls a 30-20 lead. Buffalo out shot the Purple Eagles from the floor, 50.0% (13-for-26) to 30.8% (8-for-26).
Niagara started the second half on a 16-3 run to take a 36-33 lead. The Bulls were 1-for-7 in that stretch. The Purple Eagles snatched a 53-51 lead at and never trailed the rest of the way in the final six minutes. A pair of James Graham free throws cut the lead to 58-56, but it wasn't enough to give the Bulls the momentum. Niagara shot 53.3% (16-for-30) to Buffalo's 40.7% (11-for-27) in the second half.
Niagara outscored the Bulls 25-7 in points in the paint.
The Bulls will begin #MACtion on Tuesday, Jan. 2 at Central Michigan. Tip is set for 7 p.m.
Team Stats
Niag
UB
FG%
.429
.453
3FG%
.308
.300
FT%
.895
.529
RB
35
30
TO
14
17
STL
6
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
29
FGM
11
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
Forward
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