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Tuesday, January 13
Buffalo, N.Y.
6:30 p.m.
University at Buffalo
13-4,3-2MAC
81
vs
87
Kent State
13-4,4-1MAC
1
2
F
Kent St.
44
43
87
Buffalo
30
51
81
Photo by: Paul Hokanson/UB Athletics
Bulls’ Comeback Falls Short Against Kent State
1/13/2026 10:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BUFFALO, N.Y. – In an intense Tuesday night affair, the University at Buffalo men's basketball team (13-4, 3-2 MAC) fell to the visiting Kent State Golden Flashes (13-4, 4-1 MAC), 87-81.
Daniel Freitag had his fourth 30-point performance of the season as he tallied 33 points while dishing out seven assists. In his effort, he tied his career-high in made three-pointers as he went 6-for-13. Ryan Sabol added 16 points as he made four threes on the evening to go with his six assists. In doing so, he moved to fifth all-time in three-pointers made in a career at UB with 195. He passes Jayvon Graves (2017-21, 191).
Tim Oboh rounded out the top scorers for the Bulls with 13 points and five rebounds.
The Golden Flashes entered tonight's contest as one of the best rebounding teams in the country averaging 39.0 rpg. They outrebounded the Bulls at the glass, 46-29.
It was a ball movement clinic as both teams combined for 48 assists on 57 made baskets. The Bulls had 23 assists on 26 made field goals.
Buffalo did not surrender the ball much on the night. The finished with just five turnovers to Kent State's 12. The Bulls outscored the Golden Flashes in points off turnovers, 17-4.
A sluggish first half by the Bulls was costly as they struggled to keep pace with the Golden Flashes. Buffalo secured their largest lead of the game at 9-6 with 16:28 to go in the first half. The Bulls held the lead for just 2:19 with their final lead coming at 16-15 halfway through the first half. In the final six minutes of the opening 20 minutes, the game slipped away from Buffalo. Kent State increased their lead to 12, but in the dwindling seconds a made layup pushed their lead to 14. The Bulls trailed at the half, 44-30. Their 30 points were their fewest scored in the first half all season.
Buffalo came out of the locker room on a mission. They forced an early Kent State timeout with 17:54 remaining as the Bulls made it a 44-34 game. The Golden Flashes responded as they pushed their lead to 15 less than a minute out of the timeout. The game tightened up as the Bulls knocked in eight second half three-pointers. With 8:36 to go, Angelo Brizzi's layup cut Buffalo's deficit to 66-62. The Bulls managed to keep it within three possessions, but with under five minutes left, Noah Batchelor made a pair of clutch free throws to cut Kent State' lead to 70-67. Two quick baskets by the visitors silenced the crowd for the time being. Sabol kept the Bulls in it as a three-pointer fell to make it 79-76. The Golden Flashes put the game on ice after going 8-for-10 from the free throw line. Kent State held off a furious second half rally from the Bulls to secure an 87-81 victory.
BUFFALO LEADERS
Daniel Freitag: 33 pts., 11-26 FG, 6-13 3PTFG, 3 reb., 7 asst., 3 stl.
Ryan Sabol: 16 pts., 6-12 FG, 4-8 3PTFG, 6 asst., 1 stl.
Tim Oboh: 13 pts., 4-8 FG, 5 reb., 2 blk.
TEAM STATS
Kent State Golden Flashes: 49.2 FG% (31-of-63), 39.3 3PTFG% (11-of-28), 77.8 FT% (14-of-18), 46 Reb., 25 Asst., 12 TO, 3 Stl., 3 Blk.
Buffalo Bulls: 44.8 FG% (26-of-58), 41.7 3PTFG% (10-of-24), 70.4 FT% (19-of-27), 29 Reb., 23 Asst., 5 TO, 10 Stl., 2 Blk.
The Bulls are back in action on Saturday, Jan. 17th as they'll travel to Oxford, Ohio to play the Miami RedHawks at 1 p.m.
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.
Daniel Freitag had his fourth 30-point performance of the season as he tallied 33 points while dishing out seven assists. In his effort, he tied his career-high in made three-pointers as he went 6-for-13. Ryan Sabol added 16 points as he made four threes on the evening to go with his six assists. In doing so, he moved to fifth all-time in three-pointers made in a career at UB with 195. He passes Jayvon Graves (2017-21, 191).
Tim Oboh rounded out the top scorers for the Bulls with 13 points and five rebounds.
The Golden Flashes entered tonight's contest as one of the best rebounding teams in the country averaging 39.0 rpg. They outrebounded the Bulls at the glass, 46-29.
It was a ball movement clinic as both teams combined for 48 assists on 57 made baskets. The Bulls had 23 assists on 26 made field goals.
Buffalo did not surrender the ball much on the night. The finished with just five turnovers to Kent State's 12. The Bulls outscored the Golden Flashes in points off turnovers, 17-4.
A sluggish first half by the Bulls was costly as they struggled to keep pace with the Golden Flashes. Buffalo secured their largest lead of the game at 9-6 with 16:28 to go in the first half. The Bulls held the lead for just 2:19 with their final lead coming at 16-15 halfway through the first half. In the final six minutes of the opening 20 minutes, the game slipped away from Buffalo. Kent State increased their lead to 12, but in the dwindling seconds a made layup pushed their lead to 14. The Bulls trailed at the half, 44-30. Their 30 points were their fewest scored in the first half all season.
Buffalo came out of the locker room on a mission. They forced an early Kent State timeout with 17:54 remaining as the Bulls made it a 44-34 game. The Golden Flashes responded as they pushed their lead to 15 less than a minute out of the timeout. The game tightened up as the Bulls knocked in eight second half three-pointers. With 8:36 to go, Angelo Brizzi's layup cut Buffalo's deficit to 66-62. The Bulls managed to keep it within three possessions, but with under five minutes left, Noah Batchelor made a pair of clutch free throws to cut Kent State' lead to 70-67. Two quick baskets by the visitors silenced the crowd for the time being. Sabol kept the Bulls in it as a three-pointer fell to make it 79-76. The Golden Flashes put the game on ice after going 8-for-10 from the free throw line. Kent State held off a furious second half rally from the Bulls to secure an 87-81 victory.
BUFFALO LEADERS
Daniel Freitag: 33 pts., 11-26 FG, 6-13 3PTFG, 3 reb., 7 asst., 3 stl.
Ryan Sabol: 16 pts., 6-12 FG, 4-8 3PTFG, 6 asst., 1 stl.
Tim Oboh: 13 pts., 4-8 FG, 5 reb., 2 blk.
TEAM STATS
Kent State Golden Flashes: 49.2 FG% (31-of-63), 39.3 3PTFG% (11-of-28), 77.8 FT% (14-of-18), 46 Reb., 25 Asst., 12 TO, 3 Stl., 3 Blk.
Buffalo Bulls: 44.8 FG% (26-of-58), 41.7 3PTFG% (10-of-24), 70.4 FT% (19-of-27), 29 Reb., 23 Asst., 5 TO, 10 Stl., 2 Blk.
The Bulls are back in action on Saturday, Jan. 17th as they'll travel to Oxford, Ohio to play the Miami RedHawks at 1 p.m.
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.
Team Stats
KentSt
UB
FG%
.492
.448
3FG%
.393
.417
FT%
.778
.704
RB
46
29
TO
12
5
STL
3
10
Game Leaders
Pts
33
FGM
11
3FGM
6
FTM
5
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
Guard/Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's BasketballGuard
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