Monday, November 3
Buffalo, N.Y.
6:30 p.m.
University at Buffalo
1-0,0-0MAC
85
vs
79
Southern Mississippi
0-1,0-0Sun Belt
1
2
F
Southern Miss.
38
41
79
Buffalo
36
49
85
Photo by: Paul Hokanson/UB Athletics
Bulls Mount Comeback to Defeat Southern Miss. in Season Opener, 85-79
11/3/2025 10:57:00β―PM | Men's Basketball
BUFFALO, N.Y. β The University at Buffalo men's basketball team (1-0, 0-0 MAC) defeated the visiting Southern Miss. Golden Eagles (0-1, 0-0 SBC) to open the 2025-26 season, 85-79. The Bulls trailed by as many as 15 points in the first half before outscoring the opposition, 74-53.
Β
Ryan Sabol scored a career-high 32 points in the victory as he tied his career-high in made threes with seven. His seven made three-pointers are tied for 10th all-time in a single game. He also did so at Bowling Green (2/6/24) and against Fredonia (11/8/24). Sabol became the first Bull since Curtis Jones to score at least 30 points since Feb. 4, 2023. Sabol has now scored 728 points in his career which moves him to 53rd all-time in program history.
Β
Noah Batchelor recorded his third career double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. From beyond the arc, he went 3-for-4. He added a pair of assists and three steals.
Β
In Angelo Brizzi's first game donning the blue and white, he scored a career-high 18 points. He went 9-of-10 from the charity stripe.
Β
Since the beginning of 2023-24 season, the Bulls improved to 10-1 when they score 80+ points.
Β
The Bulls finished with 16 assists to eight turnovers. UB doubled up on made three-pointers in the game as they made 12 to Southern Miss.'s six.
Β
After the opening tip, Sabol started the game with a bang as he buried a deep three to put the Bulls on the board. The Golden Eagles grabbed a 9-8 lead at the 15:34 mark and extended their lead. They secured their best scoring run on the night with a 12-0 run as they took a 26-11 lead near the halfway mark of the opening half. Little by little, Buffalo chipped away at Southern Miss.'s lead. The Bulls tied the game at 36 off a Brizzi layup with 1:20 to go. After forcing a miss, the Bulls looked to take the lead before heading to the locker room. Buffalo missed all three of their shots in a possession which led Southern Miss. to take a 38-26 lead at the half after making a second chance layup with a second to go.
Β
The Bulls trailed for the majority of the second half, but kept it within six points. The deep shot was a big difference in the second half. The Bulls buried seven threes to the Golden Eagles one. Sabol tied the game with a corner three as Batchelor drained a go-ahead three in the ensuing possession to make it 67-64 with 7:24 remaining. Buffalo never lost the lead the rest of the night.
Β
QUOTING HEAD COACH GEORGE HALCOVAGE III
"What a way to start the season," stated Head Coach George Halcovage III. "We battled down most of the game. I'm really proud of our guys to just keep coming after we went down 15 early in the first half, and battled to cut it to two going into halftime. Then again, we couldn't get a lead in the second half, and then just made some great defensive plays that became defense, that led to offense, and that opened the game up, which gave us our first lead. We just showed great resiliency at the end. They kept coming and we dealt with adversity, and these guys hit some big shots and made some big plays, especially some foul shots down the stretch to ice a game. Just so proud of these guys, and what an environment. Just thankful to all of our Bulls fans everywhere. This place was awesome tonight. They gave us a big boost when we needed."
Β
BUFFALO LEADERS
Ryan Sabol: 32 pts., 9-18 FG, 7-14 3PTFG, 4 asst.
Angelo Brizzi: 18 pts., 9-10 FT, 3 asst.
Noah Batchelor: 12 pts., 11 reb., 3 stl.
Tim Oboh: 2 blk.
Derrick Talton Jr.: 4 asst.
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TEAM STATS
Southern Miss. Golden Eagles: 54.0 FG% (27-of-50), 33.3 3PTFG% (6-of-18), 95.0 FT% (19-of-20), 29 Reb., 17 Asst., 14 TO, 6 Stl., 3 Blk.
Buffalo Bulls: 45.3 FG% (24-of-53), 4.0 3PTFG% (12-of-30), 69.4 FT% (25-of-36), 30 Reb., 16 Asst., 8 TO, 8 Stl, 3 Blk.
Β
The Bulls are back home on Friday when they host the Green Bay Phoenix at 6:30 p.m.
Β
For all the latest on UB men's basketball, followΒ @UBuffaloMBBΒ on Twitter/X,Β @ubuffalo_mbbΒ on Instagram and like theΒ UB Men's BasketballΒ Facebook page.
ClickΒ hereΒ for ticket information.
ClickΒ hereΒ for information on the Bulls Championship Fund and how you can help UB Athletics.
Β
Ryan Sabol scored a career-high 32 points in the victory as he tied his career-high in made threes with seven. His seven made three-pointers are tied for 10th all-time in a single game. He also did so at Bowling Green (2/6/24) and against Fredonia (11/8/24). Sabol became the first Bull since Curtis Jones to score at least 30 points since Feb. 4, 2023. Sabol has now scored 728 points in his career which moves him to 53rd all-time in program history.
Β
Noah Batchelor recorded his third career double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. From beyond the arc, he went 3-for-4. He added a pair of assists and three steals.
Β
In Angelo Brizzi's first game donning the blue and white, he scored a career-high 18 points. He went 9-of-10 from the charity stripe.
Β
Since the beginning of 2023-24 season, the Bulls improved to 10-1 when they score 80+ points.
Β
The Bulls finished with 16 assists to eight turnovers. UB doubled up on made three-pointers in the game as they made 12 to Southern Miss.'s six.
Β
After the opening tip, Sabol started the game with a bang as he buried a deep three to put the Bulls on the board. The Golden Eagles grabbed a 9-8 lead at the 15:34 mark and extended their lead. They secured their best scoring run on the night with a 12-0 run as they took a 26-11 lead near the halfway mark of the opening half. Little by little, Buffalo chipped away at Southern Miss.'s lead. The Bulls tied the game at 36 off a Brizzi layup with 1:20 to go. After forcing a miss, the Bulls looked to take the lead before heading to the locker room. Buffalo missed all three of their shots in a possession which led Southern Miss. to take a 38-26 lead at the half after making a second chance layup with a second to go.
Β
The Bulls trailed for the majority of the second half, but kept it within six points. The deep shot was a big difference in the second half. The Bulls buried seven threes to the Golden Eagles one. Sabol tied the game with a corner three as Batchelor drained a go-ahead three in the ensuing possession to make it 67-64 with 7:24 remaining. Buffalo never lost the lead the rest of the night.
Β
QUOTING HEAD COACH GEORGE HALCOVAGE III
"What a way to start the season," stated Head Coach George Halcovage III. "We battled down most of the game. I'm really proud of our guys to just keep coming after we went down 15 early in the first half, and battled to cut it to two going into halftime. Then again, we couldn't get a lead in the second half, and then just made some great defensive plays that became defense, that led to offense, and that opened the game up, which gave us our first lead. We just showed great resiliency at the end. They kept coming and we dealt with adversity, and these guys hit some big shots and made some big plays, especially some foul shots down the stretch to ice a game. Just so proud of these guys, and what an environment. Just thankful to all of our Bulls fans everywhere. This place was awesome tonight. They gave us a big boost when we needed."
Β
BUFFALO LEADERS
Ryan Sabol: 32 pts., 9-18 FG, 7-14 3PTFG, 4 asst.
Angelo Brizzi: 18 pts., 9-10 FT, 3 asst.
Noah Batchelor: 12 pts., 11 reb., 3 stl.
Tim Oboh: 2 blk.
Derrick Talton Jr.: 4 asst.
Β
TEAM STATS
Southern Miss. Golden Eagles: 54.0 FG% (27-of-50), 33.3 3PTFG% (6-of-18), 95.0 FT% (19-of-20), 29 Reb., 17 Asst., 14 TO, 6 Stl., 3 Blk.
Buffalo Bulls: 45.3 FG% (24-of-53), 4.0 3PTFG% (12-of-30), 69.4 FT% (25-of-36), 30 Reb., 16 Asst., 8 TO, 8 Stl, 3 Blk.
Β
The Bulls are back home on Friday when they host the Green Bay Phoenix at 6:30 p.m.
Β
For all the latest on UB men's basketball, followΒ @UBuffaloMBBΒ on Twitter/X,Β @ubuffalo_mbbΒ on Instagram and like theΒ UB Men's BasketballΒ Facebook page.
ClickΒ hereΒ for ticket information.
ClickΒ hereΒ for information on the Bulls Championship Fund and how you can help UB Athletics.
Team Stats
USM
UB
FG%
.540
.453
3FG%
.333
.400
FT%
.950
.694
RB
29
30
TO
14
8
STL
6
8
Game Leaders
Pts
32
FGM
9
3FGM
7
FTM
7
Pts
18
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
9
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
7
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Players Mentioned
Guard/Forward
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
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