Wednesday, December 31
DeKalb, Ill.
1 p.m.
University at Buffalo
at
Northern Illinois
Photo by: Paul Hokanson/UB Athletics
Bulls and Huskies Face Off in New Years Eve Matinee
12/30/2025 11:26:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo men's basketball program (11-2, 1-0 MAC) will close 2025 at Northern Illinois (5-7, 1-0 MAC) on Wednesday afternoon. Tip-off from the Convocation Center will be at 1 p.m. ET/noon CT on ESPN+. Josh Whetzel will be on the radio call on Buffalo 1520/Rochester 1280 and on the Varsity Network App.
LAST TIME OUT
The Bulls are coming off a dominant 92-63 victory over the Penn State Behrend Lions last Monday evening as they wrapped up the main portion of their non-conference schedule. With the win, Buffalo improved to 11-2 overall on the season and 5-1 in home games on the year.
In the win, Buffalo had four players reach double figure points. Ryan Sabol led the Bulls with a very efficient night from the field. He finished 12-of-14 from the field including 7-of-8 from three-point range as he finished with 31 points. For the fourth time in his career, he tied his career-high seven triples. Sabol has now made at least five threes 13 times in his career. Ezra McKenna had a game-high eight assists to go with his 12 points. Noah Batchelor and Angelo Brizzi scored 12 and 11 points, respectfully. Mikhail Pocknett led the Bulls with eight boards as he tallied eight points. The Bulls finished with 28 assists on the night, tied for their third-most in a single game in program history.
Following his performance, Sabol was named MAC Player of the Week on Monday, Dec. 29th. This marked his first career honor.
ABOUT THE HUSKIES
• Northern Illinois Head Coach Rashon Burno has spent his entire head coaching career with the Huskies. He is in his fifth season with Northern Illinois and holds a 44-92 (.324) overall record.
• The Huskies were selected 13th in the 13-team league in the Mid-American Conference Preseason Poll. Last season, Northern Illinois went 6-25 overall and 2-16 in conference play.
• The Huskies are led by Dylan Ducommun who is averaging 12.5 ppg. Makhai Valentine leads Northern Illinois with 5.8 rpg with 12.4 ppg.
THE BULL-ETIN BOARD
• Junior guard Ryan Sabol has been sensational over the last three games. He averaged 23.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg and 3.0 apg in 36.3 mpg. From the floor he was 25-for-42 (59.5%) and 15-for-28 (53.6%) from three-point land.
• Following his 31-point performance against Penn State Behrend, Ryan Sabol surpassed the 900-point mark in his career. He became the 36th Bull to reach 900 points as he's up to 916.
• Derrick Talton Jr. is three points shy from reaching 1,600 points in his collegiate career.
• On Dec. 18th, Daniel Freitag was named to the CollegeInsider.com Lou Henson Award Watchlist. Previous Bulls to have made the list are Javon McCrea (2014), Justin Moss (2015), CJ Massinburg (2018, 2019) and Nick Perkins (2019). This award goes to the top mid-major basketball player.
• Buffalo has made 244 free throws this season, the best mark in the MAC behind. Of their 1,032 points this season, 23.61% have come from the free throw line, that is a conference best as Kent State (21.4%), Northern Illinois (21.3%) and Bowling Green (20.5%) are the only other schools above 20%.
• The Bulls sit at No. 9 in the College Insider Mid-Major Top-25 poll from last Monday's rankings.
• The check in at No. 15 in the Field of 68 Mid-Major Top-25 poll from Thursday evening.
• UB has recorded 13 20-point performances this season through 13 games. Last year they finished with just 16 such games.
• Ryan Sabol (2022-pres., 183) is just three three-pointers away from passing Jarryn Skeete (2012-16, 185) for sixth most threes made in program history.
• Over the last three games, Mikhail Pocknett has averaged 7.0 ppg and 9.3 rpg in just 17.6 mpg off the bench. From the floor, he is 9-of-16 for a field goal percentage of .563.
• Angelo Brizzi leads the team with 2.08 steals per game, good for 65th in the national and second in the MAC.
• Noah Batchelor leads the Bulls with the best +/- on the team at +113.
• Daniel Freitag leads the country in free throw makes with 91.
• Daniel Freitag (254) and Ryan Sabol (220) have accounted for 45.9% of Buffalo's 1,032 points on the season.
• In the Blue Ribbon MAC Preseason Forecast, sophomore transfer Daniel Freitag was named MAC Newcomer of the Year.
• Over the last two games, the Bulls have turned the ball over just 10 times. At Western Michigan on Dec. 20th, they tied a program record for fewest turnovers with four. In their last game against Penn State Behrend on Dec. 22nd, they had six turnovers which is tied for fourth in program history for fewest turnovers in a game.
• Through 13 games, the Bulls have had 13 20-point performances by four different players. To open the season, Ryan Sabol scored 32 points against Southern Miss. and then scored 20 at DePaul. Against Green Bay, both Derrick Talton Jr. and Daniel Freitag scored 21 and 20, respectfully. Against RIT and Vermont, Freitag has scored a combined 60 points. He buried a career-high 33 points against the Catamounts. Angelo Brizzi scored a career-high 25 points against Bucknell. At Canisius, Sabol and Freitag scored 24 and 21, respectfully. Sabol then scored 21 points against St. Bonaventure. Freitag had his second 30-point performance at East Carolina where he recorded a 31-point, 11-rebound double-double. At Western Michigan, Freitag scored 20 points. Sabol recorded 31 points against Penn State Behrend.
• A Buffalo win would give the Bulls a 12-2 start to the season and a 2-0 start in conference play for the first time since the 2022-23 season. The Bulls would win their final conference game in DeKalb and move to 10-10 in the Convocation Center.
• The Bulls would drop to 11-3 on the season and 1-1 in conference play with a loss. Northern Illinois will have won three of the last five meetings.
• Ryan Sabol recorded his 13th game of his career with five or more three-pointers in a single game against Penn State Behrend when he went 7-for-8, tying his career-high in made three-pointers for the fourth time. He has 32 games with at least three three-pointers in his time in the blue and white.
• Ryan Sabol has scored 220 points this season, the second most on the team. He's currently tied for 33rd in program history in scoring with Mario Jordan (2002-06). After his 31-point performance against Penn State Behrend, Sabol passed Lamonte Bearden (2014-16, 885), Ed Eberle (1966-69, 907) and Jarryn Skeete (2012-16, 912).
• Since 2023-24, the Bulls are 16-1 when they score at least 80 points including a 16-game win streak. In their wins, they've outscored the opposition by an average margin of 10.4 points.
• Under Halcovage, the Bulls are 20-1 when leading with 5:00 to go.
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.
Click here for ticket information.
Click here for information on the Bulls Championship Fund and how you can help UB Athletics.
LAST TIME OUT
The Bulls are coming off a dominant 92-63 victory over the Penn State Behrend Lions last Monday evening as they wrapped up the main portion of their non-conference schedule. With the win, Buffalo improved to 11-2 overall on the season and 5-1 in home games on the year.
In the win, Buffalo had four players reach double figure points. Ryan Sabol led the Bulls with a very efficient night from the field. He finished 12-of-14 from the field including 7-of-8 from three-point range as he finished with 31 points. For the fourth time in his career, he tied his career-high seven triples. Sabol has now made at least five threes 13 times in his career. Ezra McKenna had a game-high eight assists to go with his 12 points. Noah Batchelor and Angelo Brizzi scored 12 and 11 points, respectfully. Mikhail Pocknett led the Bulls with eight boards as he tallied eight points. The Bulls finished with 28 assists on the night, tied for their third-most in a single game in program history.
Following his performance, Sabol was named MAC Player of the Week on Monday, Dec. 29th. This marked his first career honor.
ABOUT THE HUSKIES
• Northern Illinois Head Coach Rashon Burno has spent his entire head coaching career with the Huskies. He is in his fifth season with Northern Illinois and holds a 44-92 (.324) overall record.
• The Huskies were selected 13th in the 13-team league in the Mid-American Conference Preseason Poll. Last season, Northern Illinois went 6-25 overall and 2-16 in conference play.
• The Huskies are led by Dylan Ducommun who is averaging 12.5 ppg. Makhai Valentine leads Northern Illinois with 5.8 rpg with 12.4 ppg.
THE BULL-ETIN BOARD
• Junior guard Ryan Sabol has been sensational over the last three games. He averaged 23.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg and 3.0 apg in 36.3 mpg. From the floor he was 25-for-42 (59.5%) and 15-for-28 (53.6%) from three-point land.
• Following his 31-point performance against Penn State Behrend, Ryan Sabol surpassed the 900-point mark in his career. He became the 36th Bull to reach 900 points as he's up to 916.
• Derrick Talton Jr. is three points shy from reaching 1,600 points in his collegiate career.
• On Dec. 18th, Daniel Freitag was named to the CollegeInsider.com Lou Henson Award Watchlist. Previous Bulls to have made the list are Javon McCrea (2014), Justin Moss (2015), CJ Massinburg (2018, 2019) and Nick Perkins (2019). This award goes to the top mid-major basketball player.
• Buffalo has made 244 free throws this season, the best mark in the MAC behind. Of their 1,032 points this season, 23.61% have come from the free throw line, that is a conference best as Kent State (21.4%), Northern Illinois (21.3%) and Bowling Green (20.5%) are the only other schools above 20%.
• The Bulls sit at No. 9 in the College Insider Mid-Major Top-25 poll from last Monday's rankings.
• The check in at No. 15 in the Field of 68 Mid-Major Top-25 poll from Thursday evening.
• UB has recorded 13 20-point performances this season through 13 games. Last year they finished with just 16 such games.
• Ryan Sabol (2022-pres., 183) is just three three-pointers away from passing Jarryn Skeete (2012-16, 185) for sixth most threes made in program history.
• Over the last three games, Mikhail Pocknett has averaged 7.0 ppg and 9.3 rpg in just 17.6 mpg off the bench. From the floor, he is 9-of-16 for a field goal percentage of .563.
• Angelo Brizzi leads the team with 2.08 steals per game, good for 65th in the national and second in the MAC.
• Noah Batchelor leads the Bulls with the best +/- on the team at +113.
• Daniel Freitag leads the country in free throw makes with 91.
• Daniel Freitag (254) and Ryan Sabol (220) have accounted for 45.9% of Buffalo's 1,032 points on the season.
• In the Blue Ribbon MAC Preseason Forecast, sophomore transfer Daniel Freitag was named MAC Newcomer of the Year.
• Over the last two games, the Bulls have turned the ball over just 10 times. At Western Michigan on Dec. 20th, they tied a program record for fewest turnovers with four. In their last game against Penn State Behrend on Dec. 22nd, they had six turnovers which is tied for fourth in program history for fewest turnovers in a game.
• Through 13 games, the Bulls have had 13 20-point performances by four different players. To open the season, Ryan Sabol scored 32 points against Southern Miss. and then scored 20 at DePaul. Against Green Bay, both Derrick Talton Jr. and Daniel Freitag scored 21 and 20, respectfully. Against RIT and Vermont, Freitag has scored a combined 60 points. He buried a career-high 33 points against the Catamounts. Angelo Brizzi scored a career-high 25 points against Bucknell. At Canisius, Sabol and Freitag scored 24 and 21, respectfully. Sabol then scored 21 points against St. Bonaventure. Freitag had his second 30-point performance at East Carolina where he recorded a 31-point, 11-rebound double-double. At Western Michigan, Freitag scored 20 points. Sabol recorded 31 points against Penn State Behrend.
• A Buffalo win would give the Bulls a 12-2 start to the season and a 2-0 start in conference play for the first time since the 2022-23 season. The Bulls would win their final conference game in DeKalb and move to 10-10 in the Convocation Center.
• The Bulls would drop to 11-3 on the season and 1-1 in conference play with a loss. Northern Illinois will have won three of the last five meetings.
• Ryan Sabol recorded his 13th game of his career with five or more three-pointers in a single game against Penn State Behrend when he went 7-for-8, tying his career-high in made three-pointers for the fourth time. He has 32 games with at least three three-pointers in his time in the blue and white.
• Ryan Sabol has scored 220 points this season, the second most on the team. He's currently tied for 33rd in program history in scoring with Mario Jordan (2002-06). After his 31-point performance against Penn State Behrend, Sabol passed Lamonte Bearden (2014-16, 885), Ed Eberle (1966-69, 907) and Jarryn Skeete (2012-16, 912).
• Since 2023-24, the Bulls are 16-1 when they score at least 80 points including a 16-game win streak. In their wins, they've outscored the opposition by an average margin of 10.4 points.
• Under Halcovage, the Bulls are 20-1 when leading with 5:00 to go.
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.
Click here for ticket information.
Click here for information on the Bulls Championship Fund and how you can help UB Athletics.
Players Mentioned
Guard/Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
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