By: Matt Palisin, Asst. SID
BOXSCORE BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Despite a career night from
John Kovach (Shoreham/Shoreham-Wading River) and a near triple-double from
Tyrone Clark (Elmira/Elmira Free Academy), the Fredonia State men's basketball team fell just short, 86-79, at Buffalo State.
With 25 seconds to go, Clark nailed a three pointer to pull the Devils within three, 80-77, but the team could not get over the hump. From there, the Bengals converted all four of their free throw attempts to preserve the lead.
Kovach finished with 23 points -- a career high -- and nine rebounds. Clark had 18 points, 11 assists and seven boards.
Robert Lyles (Peekskill) added 21 points.
Buffalo State took a 45-38 lead at halftime. Their biggest lead of the game, 15 points, came with 5:37 left in the first half as the Bengals built a 34-19 lead.
Early in the second half, the Devils would twice battle to within two points. Down 49-40, the Devils went on a 9-2 run to make it a 51-49 game. They would later trail by two, 53-51, before Buff State would score six straight to up its lead.
Fredonia State falls to 4-13 overall and 1-9 in the SUNYAC.
The Bengals (9-8, 5-5) were led by Justin Mitchell with 26 points and Roderick Epps with 23.
Fredonia State is back in Steele Hall this weekend to take on Cortland and Oswego. Game times for the men and women are 6 and 8 p.m. on Friday, and 2 and 4 p.m. Saturday.
