Bulls Host Akron on Saturday for the Turner Battle Wall of Fame Game

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo men's basketball team (3-21, 1-10 MAC) will host the Akron Zips (18-6, 10-1 MAC) for a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. The matchup between the Bulls and Zips will be on ESPN+ with Paul Peck and Howard Simon on the call. Over on the Varsity Network App and on 1520 Buffalo/1280 Rochester AM, Josh Whetzel and Bob Gaughan can be heard over the airwaves.

At halftime, UB will honor men's basketball legend Turner Battle (2001-05) by honoring him in the Alumni Arena Wall of Fame. The first 1,000 fans will receive a Turner Battle shirzie.

LAST TIME OUT
The Bulls are coming off a 72-68 road loss to the Northern Illinois Huskies on Tuesday evening. Jonnivius Smith recorded his sixth double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Sy Chatman led Buffalo with 18 points as Shawn Fulcher chipped in 13 points. As a team, they struggled from the free throw line as they finished 9-for-22 (40.9%), a season-low free throw percentage.

ABOUT THE SERIES
The Bulls trail the all-time series against the Zips, 34-40 (.460). In just conference play, Akron leads the series, 24-21. The Zips have ben victorious in six straight meetings with Buffalo's last win coming on March 12, 2021, with an 81-74 decision in the MAC Tournament. On Jan. 12 of this year, the Zips won at home, 76-59 over the Bulls.

THE BULL-ETIN BOARD
• After closing a three-game road trip at Northern Illinois, the Bulls will finish the regular season with five of their last seven games at Alumni Arena.

• Jonnivius Smith's 203 total rebounds on the season makes him the 26^th Bull to record 200+ rebounds in Buffalo's Modern Era (since 1991).

• On Tuesday night at Northern Illinois, Isaiah Adams played his 100^th career collegiate game.

• Sy Chatman has scored in double figures in all but one game this season for the Bulls. His 18.0 points per game is good for sixth in the MAC and 86^th in the NCAA. The fifth year forward has also averages 6.3 rebounds per game which is ninth in the MAC. During MAC play, Chatman's 17.9 points per game is sixth.

• Jonnivius Smith leads the team with 8.8 rebounds per game, which ranks 51^st in the NCAA and third in the MAC behind Akron's Enrique Freeman (12.8). Smith's 9.3 rebounds per game in MAC play is third behind Rashaun Agee (Bowling Green, 10.5) and Enrique Freeman (Akron, 12.5).

• Sy Chatman has scored 15+ in 17 of the 24 games this season, including 10 games of 20+.

• Isaiah Adams is 54 points shy from scoring 1,000 career points. Over the last two seasons at Buffalo, he's totaled 619 points, good for 12.13 points per game.

• Isaiah Adams is averaging a team-high 3.6 assists on the season, good for fifth in the MAC. His 1.15 assists-to-turnover ratio is ninth in the MAC.

• Freshman Ryan Sabol leads the team with 48 made three-pointers on the season. He ranks sixth in the MAC in three-pointers made. Sabol became the first Buffalo freshman to score seven threes in a single game on Feb. 6 at Bowling Green. This performance puts him tied for 10th for most threes in a game in program history.

• Sy Chatman and Jonnivius Smith are the only duo in the MAC to each have at least five double-doubles.

• Buffalo's 4.5 blocks per game is second in the MAC and 52^nd in the nation.

• Buffalo is 3-0 when they shoot 50% or better from the floor this season.

• At halftime against Akron, UB will honor Turner Battle (2001-05) by hanging his banner in the Wall of Fame. He will be just the sixth men's basketball player to have a banner raised.

UP NEXT
Buffalo will stay home as they'll play the Eastern Michigan Eagles on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Bulls Host Akron on Saturday for the Turner Battle Wall of Fame Game

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Players Mentioned

Isaiah Adams

Sy Chatman

Shawn Fulcher

Ryan Sabol

Jonnivius Smith

University at Buffalo Athletics