Tuesday, February 17
Buffalo, N.Y.
6:30 p.m.
University at Buffalo
15-11,5-8MAC
70
vs
72
Northern Illinois
9-16,4-9MAC
1
2
F
NIU
29
43
72
Buffalo
35
35
70
Photo by: Paul Hokanson/UB Athletics
Bulls Fall Short to Northern Illinois on Tuesday Night
2/17/2026 10:48:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BUFFALO, N.Y. – It came down to the final possession in Alumni Arena on Tuesday night, but the ball didn't bounce in favor of the home team. The University at Buffalo men's basketball program (15-11, 5-8 MAC) lost to the visiting Northern Illinois Huskies (9-16, 4-10 MAC) by a score of 72-70.
Angelo Brizzi led all players with 25 points, adding six rebounds. Ryan Sabol scored 24 points as he went 6-for-11 from deep. Tim Oboh finished with eight points, five boards and three blocks.
In limited action, Kyle Jones had the best plus/minus of any player, finishing at +15. He tallied a career-high four assists with a steal.
With his performance tonight, Sabol is now tied for fifth with Jeremy Harris (2017-18) for most threes made in a single season with 92. The junior guard passed Mike Martinho (1996-97), Calvin Cage (2005-06) and CJ Massinburg (2017-18) for most made threes in a season as they finished with 89 in their respective seasons.
Sabol became just the fifth Bull in program history to make 90 threes in a single season, joining Mike Martinho (1995-96, 94), Zach Filzen (2010-11, 110 & 2011-12, 97), Jeremy Harris (2017-18, 92) and CJ Massinburg (2018-19, 93).
Sabol got the night started with a three to give Buffalo the early lead on their opening possession. The Huskies fought back to take a quick lead at 12-11, but after retaking the lead, Buffalo did not trail the rest of the half. The game looked as though it would go Buffalo's way as they shot 50.0% from the floor including 12-of-17 (70.6%) from inside the arc. The Bulls' defense held the Huskies to 37.0% from the field in the opening half as Buffalo managed to hold 35-29 halftime lead.
A slow start to the second half was costly by the Bulls as the Huskies ran out to an 8-0 run to take a 37-35 lead. The run forced a Buffalo timeout, but the momentum still favored the visitors. Northern Illinois went on to take a 63-54 lead at the 6:51 mark. Second half shooting favored the Huskies as they were 14-of-23 (60.9%) from the floor, including going 8-of-12 (66.7%) from three-point range.
Despite the lights out shooting, Buffalo made a late surge. Trailing 71-63 with 2:32 to go, a second chance made three by Noah Batchelor cut the lead down to five. In their next possession, Brizzi drilled a three to force a Northern Illinois timeout at 71-69 with 1:55 left. Oboh got fouled in the ensuing possession, but only made one of his free throws to make it a 71-70 game. Buffalo's defense forced a shot clock violation with under a minute to go, but the offense went cold. Brizzi had a go-ahead layup blocked, but secured his own rebound. He passed it to Batchelor for an open three, but it rattled out. After a 1 & 1 missed free throw, the Bulls went down the court, but missed another go-ahead bucket with 6 seconds left. After fouling, Northern Illinois made the first of the 1 & 1, but missed the second. After securing the rebound, Buffalo called a timeout. With a last second heave by Ezra McKenna, the shot by Oboh just outside the paint fell short as Northern Illinois escaped with the 72-70 win.
BUFFALO LEADERS
Angelo Brizzi: 25 pts., 9-19 FG, 6-7 FT, 6 reb.
Ryan Sabol: 24 pts., 8-16 FG, 6-11 3PTFG, 3
Tim Oboh: 8 pts., 5 reb., 3 blk.
Ezra McKenna: 4 pts., 6 reb., 2 asst.
TEAM STATS
Northern Illinois Huskies: 48.0 FG% (24-of-50), 46.4 3PTFG% (13-of-28), 73.3 FT% (11-of-15), 35 Reb., 19 Asst., 15 TO, 5 Stl., 3 Blk.
Buffalo Bulls: 46.3 FG% (25-of-54), 36.4 3PTFG% (8-of-22), 70.6 7 FT% (12-of-17), 25 Reb., 12 Asst., 10 TO, 8 Stl., 4 Blk.
The Bulls are back in action on Saturday as they'll travel to UMass. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN+.
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.
Angelo Brizzi led all players with 25 points, adding six rebounds. Ryan Sabol scored 24 points as he went 6-for-11 from deep. Tim Oboh finished with eight points, five boards and three blocks.
In limited action, Kyle Jones had the best plus/minus of any player, finishing at +15. He tallied a career-high four assists with a steal.
With his performance tonight, Sabol is now tied for fifth with Jeremy Harris (2017-18) for most threes made in a single season with 92. The junior guard passed Mike Martinho (1996-97), Calvin Cage (2005-06) and CJ Massinburg (2017-18) for most made threes in a season as they finished with 89 in their respective seasons.
Sabol became just the fifth Bull in program history to make 90 threes in a single season, joining Mike Martinho (1995-96, 94), Zach Filzen (2010-11, 110 & 2011-12, 97), Jeremy Harris (2017-18, 92) and CJ Massinburg (2018-19, 93).
Sabol got the night started with a three to give Buffalo the early lead on their opening possession. The Huskies fought back to take a quick lead at 12-11, but after retaking the lead, Buffalo did not trail the rest of the half. The game looked as though it would go Buffalo's way as they shot 50.0% from the floor including 12-of-17 (70.6%) from inside the arc. The Bulls' defense held the Huskies to 37.0% from the field in the opening half as Buffalo managed to hold 35-29 halftime lead.
A slow start to the second half was costly by the Bulls as the Huskies ran out to an 8-0 run to take a 37-35 lead. The run forced a Buffalo timeout, but the momentum still favored the visitors. Northern Illinois went on to take a 63-54 lead at the 6:51 mark. Second half shooting favored the Huskies as they were 14-of-23 (60.9%) from the floor, including going 8-of-12 (66.7%) from three-point range.
Despite the lights out shooting, Buffalo made a late surge. Trailing 71-63 with 2:32 to go, a second chance made three by Noah Batchelor cut the lead down to five. In their next possession, Brizzi drilled a three to force a Northern Illinois timeout at 71-69 with 1:55 left. Oboh got fouled in the ensuing possession, but only made one of his free throws to make it a 71-70 game. Buffalo's defense forced a shot clock violation with under a minute to go, but the offense went cold. Brizzi had a go-ahead layup blocked, but secured his own rebound. He passed it to Batchelor for an open three, but it rattled out. After a 1 & 1 missed free throw, the Bulls went down the court, but missed another go-ahead bucket with 6 seconds left. After fouling, Northern Illinois made the first of the 1 & 1, but missed the second. After securing the rebound, Buffalo called a timeout. With a last second heave by Ezra McKenna, the shot by Oboh just outside the paint fell short as Northern Illinois escaped with the 72-70 win.
BUFFALO LEADERS
Angelo Brizzi: 25 pts., 9-19 FG, 6-7 FT, 6 reb.
Ryan Sabol: 24 pts., 8-16 FG, 6-11 3PTFG, 3
Tim Oboh: 8 pts., 5 reb., 3 blk.
Ezra McKenna: 4 pts., 6 reb., 2 asst.
TEAM STATS
Northern Illinois Huskies: 48.0 FG% (24-of-50), 46.4 3PTFG% (13-of-28), 73.3 FT% (11-of-15), 35 Reb., 19 Asst., 15 TO, 5 Stl., 3 Blk.
Buffalo Bulls: 46.3 FG% (25-of-54), 36.4 3PTFG% (8-of-22), 70.6 7 FT% (12-of-17), 25 Reb., 12 Asst., 10 TO, 8 Stl., 4 Blk.
The Bulls are back in action on Saturday as they'll travel to UMass. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN+.
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
NIU
UB
FG%
.480
.463
3FG%
.464
.364
FT%
.733
.706
RB
35
25
TO
15
10
STL
5
8
Game Leaders
Pts
25
FGM
9
3FGM
1
FTM
6
Pts
24
FGM
8
3FGM
6
FTM
2
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
Guard/Forward
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard/Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's BasketballGuard
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