(BOX SCORE)

ATLANTA— Buffalo State (0-6) was right there at the end again, but could not pull ahead, falling to Catholic University of America (8-2), 77-75, this afternoon on Pinholster Court at the Oglethorpe Holiday Classic.

Jamar Gray (Rochester/Bishop Kearney) paced the Bengals with 22 points, six rebounds and five assists. James Tyndal (Bronx/Msgr. Scanlon) poured in 19 points, and #A.J. White# (Rochester/Bishop Kearney) and #E.J. Fuller# (Niagara Falls/Niagara Falls) added nine points each.

CUA jumped out to an early 13-5 lead and maintained a 36-31 advantage after the opening 20 minutes. Buffalo State closed the margin to one three times in the second half, including twice in the closing seconds, but could never pull ahead.

Buffalo State will return to action on Jan. 2 when it hosts the Holiday Inn Invitational with an opening round game against Heidelberg. St. Lawrence and Widener will open the tournament at 6 p.m., followed by the Bengals' game.