Bulls’ Late Push Falls Short at St. Bonaventure

Saturday, December 7

St. Bonaventure, N.Y.

4 p.m.

5-5,0-0MAC

St. Bonaventure

9-1,0-0Atlantic 10

Buffalo

St. Bonaventure

Photo by: Paul Hokanson / UB Athletics

Bulls’ Late Push Falls Short at St. Bonaventure

12/7/2024 7:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Post Game Presser Transcription

By: Zach Monell

OLEAN, N.Y. – In the final moments of the game, the University at Buffalo men's basketball team's (5-5, 0-0 MAC) late push fell short against the St. Bonaventure Bonnies (9-1, 0-0 A10) on Saturday afternoon, 65-55. Buffalo managed to cut the deficit to 6 points with 1:45 to go but couldn't complete the comeback.

Sophomores Ryan Sabol and Bryson Wilson led the Bulls with 14 points apiece. Wilson made two three-pointers, setting a new career high as Sabol made 3 from beyond the arc. He has now made at least 3 threes in nine straight games and has now made a three in 16 straight games dating back to last season. Sabol has made 99 career threes in 41 games. Off the bench, Brayden Jackson continues to be solid as he scored 11 points with 2 rebounds and 1 steal. Noah Batchelor and Ben Michaels led the team with 5 rebounds each. Tyson Dunn added 4 assists to his season total.

The Bulls and Bonnies were nearly identical from the floor as the home team had 48 shots to Buffalo's 47. A key difference was the trips to the free throw line. Buffalo knocked down all 7 free throws, but St. Bonaventure went 19-for-24 (79.2%).

It was a tough start for the Bulls in the hostile Reilly Center. The Bonnies got off to a 10-0 start before Michaels ended the scoring drought with a layup. The Bulls had an uphill battle as they trailed most of the half down by double figures. St. Bonaventure led at the half, 32-22.

The Bulls outshot the Bonnies in the second half, 48.0% to 43.5%. Buffalo also went 5-of-11 (45.5%) from deep as St. Bonaventure was just 1-of-6 (16.7%). With 13:29 to go in the half, the Bonnies took a 14-point lead, their largest of the half. The Bulls didn't quit as they slowly chipped away and made it a 59-53 Bonnies' lead with 1:45 to go after a Jackson layup. In desperation mode, the Bulls failed to make their shots, and the Bonnies put the game on ice after making free throws down the stretch.

"I mentioned this was my first time in the Reilly Center and they have just great fan support down here, and great culture," stated Head Coach George Halcovage III. "Coach [Mark] Schmidt does a heck of a job. We didn't come out offensively with the necessary plays that we needed to make in terms of starting the game. Turning the ball over a little bit, and being a little careless on the offensive end, and put ourselves in a hole down 10-0 to start the game. I'm really proud of our team's defensive effort for the whole entire game, for the full 40 minutes. We grinded and gave ourselves a chance at the end to cut it to six with the ball and had some great looks. Just proud of our guys sticking together in a really tough environment.

The Bulls are back in action on Thursday, Dec. 19 when they travel to Athens, Ga. to play the Georgia Bulldogs (8-1, 0-0 SEC). The game will be streamed on SECN+ with tip-off at 7 p.m.

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