Bulls Use Second Half Surge to Defeat VMI, 78-70

Monday, November 24

Fort Myers, Fla. / Suncoast Credit Union Arena

2:30 p.m.

University at Buffalo

6-0,0-0MAC

VMI

3-5,0-0SoCon

Buffalo

VMI

Bulls Use Second Half Surge to Defeat VMI, 78-70

11/24/2025 6:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Zach Monell

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo men's basketball team (6-0, 0-0 MAC) came out victorious over the VMI Keydets (3-5, 0-0 SoCon) at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on Monday evening to open the Skecher Fort Myers Tip-Off, 78-70. This is just the second time in their Division I era that Buffalo has started the season 6-0, the first came in 2018-19.

One of the best teams in the country at getting to the free throw line, the Bulls who average 33.4 free throws per game, went to the line 37 times against the Keydets. Buffalo went 28-for-37, as VMI was just 14-for-20.

In every game this season, they have had three Bulls score in double-figures. Daniel Freitag led the team with 17 points as he was 14-for-15 from the free throw line. Noah Batchelor added 15 points. The senior forward was 3-of-5 from deep. He also secured five rebounds. Ryan Sabol splashed in four three-pointers as he scored 13 points.

Ezra McKenna had a standout performance as he scored eight points to go with his game-high 10 rebounds.

Both teams struggled to find their rhythm on offense. The Bulls were 9-for-24 from the field in the first half. The .375 field goal percentage was a first half low on the season. VMI was held to .355 from the floor, but managed to hold a 33-31 half time lead. The Keydets made five first half threes as the Bulls only knocked in three.

Buffalo came out of the half blazing hot as they shot 12-for-22 from the floor, good for 54.5%. The Bulls took a 36-35 lead with 16:20 to go as Sabol nailed a three. The lead didn't last as the Keydets regained the lead and kept it for nearly five minutes. After a made McKenna layup with 8:28 left, the Bulls never trailed to close the game. They pushed the lead to as many as 15 points. In the final 2:23, the Bulls went 9-for-10 from the free throw line to put the game on ice.

BUFFALO LEADERS
Daniel Freitag: 17 pts., 2 reb., 1 blk., 14-16 FT
Noah Batchelor: 15 pts., 5 reb., 5-7 FG
Ryan Sabol: 13 pts., 3 reb., 3 asst., 4 3PTFG
Ezra McKenna: 8 pts., 10 reb., 4-6 FG
Derrick Talton Jr.: 7 pts., 4 asst.
Tim Oboh: 8 pts., 2 stl.
Angelo Brizzi: 9 pts., 4 reb.

TEAM STATS
VMI Keydets: 37.5 FG% (24-of-64), 23.5 3PTFG% (14-of-20), 70.0 FT% (14-of-20), 35 Reb., 8 Asst., 8 TO, 5 Stl., 1 Blk.
Buffalo Bulls: 45.7 FG% (21-of-46), 38.1 3PTFG% (8-of-21), 75.7 FT% (28-of-37), 36 Reb., 11 Asst.,12 TO, 6 Stl., 2 Blk.

The Bulls are back in action on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. as they'll play the Bucknell Bison (2-5, 0-0 Patriot League) to wrap up the Palms Division at the Skechers Fort Myers Tip-Off.

For all the latest on UB men's basketball, follow @UBuffaloMBB on Twitter/X, @ubuffalo_mbb on Instagram and like the UB Men's Basketball Facebook page.

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