Bulls Fall to the Bobcats, 78-66

Tuesday, March 5

Buffalo, N.Y.

7 p.m.

4-26,2-15MAC

Ohio

18-12,12-5MAC

Ohio

Buffalo

Photo by: Paul Hokanson/UBBulls.com

3/5/2024 10:37:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Zach Monell

BUFFALO, N.Y. – In their second to last game of the season, the University at Buffalo men's basketball team (4-26, 2-15 MAC) fell to the Ohio Bobcats (18-12, 12-5 MAC) on Tuesday evening, 78-66.

Sy Chatman inched his way closer to the 1,000-point milestone after a 25-point night against the Bobcats as he's at 993. Chatman played all 40 minutes for the second time this season while adding eight rebounds and three steals. Jonnivius Smith was the only other Bull to score in double figures with 10. Smith also had three steals and a game-high two blocks. Lloyd McVeigh had a MAC career-high eight boards in the game.

Off the opening tip, the game went Ohio's way. They led wire-to-wire for a total of 39:38. The MAC leaders in three-pointers made per game made their presence known early. The Bobcats jumped out to a 9-0 lead after starting 3-for-4 from three-point range. A Chatman jumper in the paint put the Bulls on the board at the 17:10 mark to make it 9-2. With the Bobcats leading 16-9 with 13:42 to go in the first, the Bulls went on a 5-0 run to cut their lead to two points. Unfortunately, they couldn't keep it close as they Bobcats went on a 6-0 run at the under-12 media timeout to go up 22-14. At the half, the Bobcats went into the locker room with a 40-33 lead after shooting 51.7% from the floor and draining eight threes. The Bulls shot 44.4%, but only had three three-pointers on the board.

The offensive attack by the Bobcats continued to the second half as they had their largest lead of 17 at the 15:45 mark of the half. Down 55-38, the Bulls rattled off the largest run by either side of 10 points over the course of 2:46 to make it 55-48 ball game and force an Ohio timeout. The seven-point margin was the closest Buffalo got the rest of the way as the Bobcats won, 78-66.

Smith moved up Buffalo's Modern Era (since 1991-92) all-time single season rebounds list as he has 242 rebounds on the year. He past Josh Mballa (2021-22, 240), Blake Hamilton (2015-16, 240) and Darcel Williams (2001-02, 241) for eighth all-time. Kelvin Robinson (1994-95) sits in seventh with 244 rebounds.

Chatman's 202 made field goals this season puts him tied for seventh with Javon McCrea (2012-13) for most field goals made in a single season in Buffalo's Modern Era.

With their four blocks against the Bobcats, the Bulls are now 10^th in program history with 138 blocks in a single season passing the 2013-14 squad who had 137.

The Bulls are back in action one final time this season on Friday at 7 p.m. against the Northern Illinois Huskies. The team will honor their three seniors prior to the game in Isaiah Adams, Sy Chatman and Jonnivius Smith.