Freitag’s Buzzer Beater Lifts Bulls to 73-71 Win Over Bucknell

Wednesday, November 26

Fort Myers, Fla. / Suncoast Credit Union Arena

1:30 p.m.

University at Buffalo

7-0,0-0MAC

Bucknell

2-6,0-0Patriot

Buffalo

Bucknell

Freitag’s Buzzer Beater Lifts Bulls to 73-71 Win Over Bucknell

11/26/2025 6:21:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Zach Monell

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Sophomore guard Daniel Freitag sealed the game at the buzzer as the University at Buffalo men's basketball team (7-0, 0-0 MAC) defeated the Bucknell Bison (2-6, 0-0 Patriot) in the final game of the Skechers Fort Myers Tip-Off, 73-71. This is just the second time in their Division I era that Buffalo has started the season 7-0, the first came in 2018-19.

Angelo Brizzi had, yet again, a career day as he scored a career-high 25 points including making all 10 of his free throw attempts. The reigning MAC Player of the Week in Freitag scored 18 points with a career-high nine boards, all of which came on the defensive end.

Noah Batchelor added 11 points as he was 3-for-6 from three-point land.

It was a battle on both ends of the floor to start the game. The Bison led for 6:03 to Buffalo's 11:16, but neither team pulled away. At the under-4 media timeout, the Bulls led, 33-31, but their lead would increase. To close the end of the half, the Bulls' defense clamped down on the Bison's offensive attack. Bucknell was held scoreless in the final 3:47 as they turned the ball over five times. In that span, the Bison were 0-for-8 from the field. Buffalo capitalized on this as they went on a 17-1 run over the last 5:37, including draining 5-of-7 from the floor. Bucknell started the half 5-for-8 from three-point range, just under eight minutes into the contest, but failed on their next six attempts. The Bulls went to the locker room at the half leading, 45-32.

Out of the half, the tides turned as Bucknell started the half 6-for-6 from the field to cut Buffalo's lead to 54-49. Out of the under-12 media timeout, the Bison tied the game at 54 and managed to go up by four points four different times. Buffalo went scoreless from the floor for over seven minutes, but free throws kept them in the game. They went 10-for-15 from the charity stripe. The Bulls took a 71-69 lead with 19-seconds remaining off a driving layup courtesy of Brizzi. With Bucknell in possession of the ball, they drew a foul on a layup with 5.5-seconds to go. After making both free throws to tie the game at 71, the Bulls called a timeout to draw up their final possession. Batchelor inbounded to Ezra McKenna who found Freitag streaking up the sideline. Freitag took the ball all the way up the court before banking in a layup to give the Bulls the 73-71 victory.

BUFFALO LEADERS
Daniel Freitag: 18 pts., 9 reb., 3 asst., 2 blk.
Angelo Brizzi: 25 pts., 4 reb., 2 asst., 4 stl., 6-9 FG, 10-10 FT
Noah Batchelor: 11 pts., 2 asst., 4-7 FG
Mikhail Pocknett: 6 pts., 8 reb., 3 stl.

TEAM STATS
Bucknell Bison: 47.4 FG% (27-of-57), 37.0 3PTFG% (10-of-27), 58.3 FT% (7-of-12), 35 Reb., 16 Asst., 11 TO, 5 Stl., 3 Blk.
Buffalo Bulls: 44.47 FG% (24-of-54), 39.3 3PTFG% (11-of-28), 73.7 FT% (14-of-19), 29 Reb., 11 Asst., 8 TO, 9 Stl., 4 Blk.

The Bulls are back in action on Saturday at 6 p.m. as they'll play the Canisius Golden Griffins (4-3, 0-0 MAAC) on the road.

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