(BOX SCORE)

BUFFALO, NY—Sophomore Nick Melligan (Sanborn, NY/Niagara-Wheatfield) had two goals and an assist to help propel Buffalo State (7-7-2) past visiting Johnson & Wales (6-9), 4-2, in a non-conference game tonight at the Ice Arena.

Shane Avery (Fort Covington, NY/Salmon River) and Mac Balson (Lakefield, ON/Adam Scott CVI) also scored for Buffalo State, while Matt Bessing (Elma, NY/Cheektowaga) picked up a pair of assists.

Melligan scored the only goal of the first period and the Bengals netted three more in the second stanza to take a 4-1 lead after two periods of play.  The Wildcats scored at 5:27 of the third to cut the deficit in half but would not get any closer.

Buffalo State held a 41-29 advantage in shots and finished 1 for 6 on the power play, while Johnson & Wales was 1 for 5 with the extra skater.  Kevin Carr (Unionville, ON/Unionville) had 27 saves for his seventh win of the season.

Buffalo State and Johnson & Wales will face-off again at the Ice Arena tomorrow at 3 p.m.