By: By MATT PALISIN, Assistant SID
BOXSCORE
FREDONIA, N.Y. -- The Fredonia State men's basketball team had another classic battle with Western New York rival Buffalo State, with the Bengals coming out on top, 70-67.
The final tie came at the 2:27 mark when Buffalo State's Ahmed Nagaya converted an open layup to make it 63-all.
Fredonia State answered as
Julius Bryant nailed a fade-away jumper as the 35-second shot clock expired to give the Devils what would be their final lead of the game.
Nagaya converted a pair of free throw son the Bengals' next trip down the floor. After the Devils missed a three-point attempt, Buffalo State grabbed the rebound. Nagaya drove the lane and converted a three-point play to put the Bengals up 68-65.
The Devils answered back with a layup by
Damien Goodwin II to pull within one, 68-67.
The teams traded unsuccessful offensive possessions before Buffalo State had the opportunity to inbound the ball with 29 seconds remaining. They pass went directly to the Devils'
Dalton Kashmer and Fredonia State quickly called a timeout.
On the ensuing possession, Fredonia State's
Leonard Smith was called for an offensive foul under his own basket with six seconds left. With the Bengals in the bonus, Norman Simmons was sent to the line and converted both free throws.
The Devils could not muster a shot before the final buzzer.
Bryant had a big night for the Devils with 29 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks. Goodwin added 15 points and six rebounds. Smith finished with 8 points and 6 assists.
Buffalo State (18-6 overall, 11-5 SUNYAC) was led by Nico McLean with 19 points and six steals. Nagaya finished with 14 points and Roderick Epps had 13.
Fredonia State (13-9, 8-8) travesl to Cortland and Oswego this weekend to wrap up the regular season. They will be in action next Tuesday at a site to be determined to open the SUNYAC Tournament.
The Devils led by one at the break, 35-34. They led by as many as 10 early in the second half before the Bengals clawed back into the game. The teams then had a see-saw battle over the final 10 minutes.
Bryant keyed the early going for Fredonia State by scoring the team's first 12 points as the Devils built a 12-6 lead.
Buffalo State eventually took a 25-17 lead – its biggest of the game – at the 10:13 mark following a three-pointer by Epps.
From there, the Devils went on an 11-0 run to take a 28-25 advantage. There would be six lead changes before the Devils settled for a 35-34 halftime edge.
Bryant led the Devils with 16 points and eight rebounds at the break.
Leonard Smith had four assists. Nico McLean led Buffalo State with 10 points.
The Devils kept the lead until Simmons nailed a three pointer at the 10:00 mark of the second half to make it 50-all. From that point on, neither team would lead by more than three points at any time, and there were seven ties and seven lead changes.
