Tuesday, December 5
Indianapolis, Ind.
8:30 p.m.
1-8,0-0MAC
59
at
72
Butler
7-2,0-0Big East
1
2
F
Buffalo
26
33
59
Butler
35
37
72
Photo by: Zach Monell/UBBulls.com
Butler Defends Hinkle in First Meeting Between Programs
12/5/2023 11:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
INDIANAPOLIS – The University at Buffalo men's basketball team (1-8, 0-0 MAC) fell to the Butler Bulldogs (7-2, 0-0 BIG EAST) at the historic Hinkle Fieldhouse on Tuesday evening, 72-59. The Bulls had a late surge, but their comeback fell short.
To start the game, the Bulls were able to secure their first lead in four games. Their last lead was against Louisiana at the Gulf Coast Showcase. Despite not having the lead, Buffalo kept it a two-possession game until with 6:14 left when the Bulldogs went up seven, 25-18. Buffalo was able to cut it to three-points at the 3:24 mark. The Bulls went scoreless the rest of the half and Butler made a three with just seven seconds left to go up nine.
At the half, the Bulldogs led by nine, 35-26. The nine-point half time differential were Buffalo's struggles from three-point range. The Bulls went 0-for-11 while Butler was 3-for-11 (27.3%).
The Bulls were slow out of the gate in the second half. Six minutes into the half, Butler was outscoring Buffalo 20-5 as they held a 55-31 lead. Despite the 24-point deficit, that did not deter the Bulls. Buffalo was able to cut the lead to single digits with 3:23 remaining. Butler led, 64-59, as Sy Chatman slammed home a fastbreak dunk. Down the home stretch, the Bulldogs forced three turnovers to shut down the Bulls and take home the 72-59 home victory.
Buffalo finished with a season-high 10 blocks. The last time the Bulls finished with 10 blocks against a Division I team was against Bowling Green on Jan. 31, 2020, when the finished with 13. Jonnivius Smith had three blocks, matching his career high.
In the second half, Buffalo finished 6-for-15 (40.0%) from three-point range. Ryan Sabol and Chatman made two three-pointers each with Anquan Boldin Jr. and Lloyd McVeigh having one apiece.
Chatman finished with a team-high 16 points. He's the only Bull to finish with 10 or more points in every game this season.
"Last game I said we got to play the full 40 minutes, and I think we took a step forward tonight," stated Head Coach George Halcovage III. "We had a little lapse there in the second half to start. We didn't come out with the same aggression that we did in the first half and put ourselves in a hole. Credit to our team that we've been doing this all year. Our guys just keep fighting, keep battling and we gave ourselves a chance tonight in a really hostile environment."
"You got to just keep learning from our mistakes from watching film," said guard Shawn Fulcher. "Coach is telling us to learn from the mistakes that we make. We got to capitalize on it, move on from it, and then be better in the next game."
The Bulls are back in action on Saturday, Dec. 9 as they host Western Kentucky at 2 p.m.
To start the game, the Bulls were able to secure their first lead in four games. Their last lead was against Louisiana at the Gulf Coast Showcase. Despite not having the lead, Buffalo kept it a two-possession game until with 6:14 left when the Bulldogs went up seven, 25-18. Buffalo was able to cut it to three-points at the 3:24 mark. The Bulls went scoreless the rest of the half and Butler made a three with just seven seconds left to go up nine.
At the half, the Bulldogs led by nine, 35-26. The nine-point half time differential were Buffalo's struggles from three-point range. The Bulls went 0-for-11 while Butler was 3-for-11 (27.3%).
The Bulls were slow out of the gate in the second half. Six minutes into the half, Butler was outscoring Buffalo 20-5 as they held a 55-31 lead. Despite the 24-point deficit, that did not deter the Bulls. Buffalo was able to cut the lead to single digits with 3:23 remaining. Butler led, 64-59, as Sy Chatman slammed home a fastbreak dunk. Down the home stretch, the Bulldogs forced three turnovers to shut down the Bulls and take home the 72-59 home victory.
Buffalo finished with a season-high 10 blocks. The last time the Bulls finished with 10 blocks against a Division I team was against Bowling Green on Jan. 31, 2020, when the finished with 13. Jonnivius Smith had three blocks, matching his career high.
In the second half, Buffalo finished 6-for-15 (40.0%) from three-point range. Ryan Sabol and Chatman made two three-pointers each with Anquan Boldin Jr. and Lloyd McVeigh having one apiece.
Chatman finished with a team-high 16 points. He's the only Bull to finish with 10 or more points in every game this season.
"Last game I said we got to play the full 40 minutes, and I think we took a step forward tonight," stated Head Coach George Halcovage III. "We had a little lapse there in the second half to start. We didn't come out with the same aggression that we did in the first half and put ourselves in a hole. Credit to our team that we've been doing this all year. Our guys just keep fighting, keep battling and we gave ourselves a chance tonight in a really hostile environment."
"You got to just keep learning from our mistakes from watching film," said guard Shawn Fulcher. "Coach is telling us to learn from the mistakes that we make. We got to capitalize on it, move on from it, and then be better in the next game."
The Bulls are back in action on Saturday, Dec. 9 as they host Western Kentucky at 2 p.m.
Team Stats
UB
Butler
FG%
.387
.448
3FG%
.231
.208
FT%
.625
.700
RB
36
37
TO
14
11
STL
8
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
16
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
Guard
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