FREDONIA, N.Y. -- The Fredonia State Blue Devils claimed a crucial 83-71 victory over the Buffalo State Bengals in the latest chapter of the "Battle by the Lake" rivalry on Friday night. This win marked Fredonia's third consecutive win, elevating their record to 5-8 overall and 3-3 in the SUNYAC standings.

After trailing momentarily in the opening minutes, Fredonia surged ahead, outscoring the Bengals 36-25 in the first half. A pivotal moment came with under two minutes remaining in the half when standout guard Brandon Kulakowski sank a contested layup to extend the lead.  Tyrese Fuller followed up with a buzzer-beating fast-break layup off a steal, sending the Devils into halftime ahead by 11 points.

Buffalo State played the Devils tight in the second half, relying on Bryce Williams' 19 points and Nate Severson's hot hand from beyond the arc. However, Fredonia's balanced offensive attack and late free-throw shooting proved too much. Kulakowski led the charge with a game-high 20 points and nine rebounds, while Martin Garza contributed 20 points, including a big pair of three-pointers to put the game on ice for Fredonia State.

Fredonia's defense also stood strong, forcing 16 turnovers. "This team continues to grow in confidence with every game," said Fredonia Head Coach Sean Smiley "Tonight's win was a total team effort, and we're looking forward to carrying this momentum into our next game."

The Blue Devils will face SUNY Cortland on the road this Tuesday, January 21st, at 7:00 PM, as they aim to extend their winning streak to four games.