BUFFALO, N.Y.— Freshman Domenic Grayer (Brooklyn/Bishop Loughlin) scored 20 points in his first collegiate game, but Buffalo State could not hang onto its 11-point first half lead and fell 91-89 to visiting Point Park on Saturday afternoon in the first game of the 2015-16 season.
 
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Point Park – 91, Buffalo State – 89
LOCATION:  Sports Arena – Buffalo, N.Y.
RECORDS:  Buffalo State (0-1), Point Park (3-2)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Both teams got off to a slow start and the game remained close in the opening minutes with five ties in the first 11 minutes.
• Buffalo State got hot from behind the arc to take momentum in the closing minutes of the first half. A three pointer at 09:52 from Grayer way outside the arc gave the Bengals the lead, 20-17, one that they would keep the remainder of the half.
• A quick run that started with Grayer's three pushed Buffalo State's lead to six at 7:29.
• With 3:33 left to play in the first, a layup from Lovell Smith (Buffalo/McKinley) put the Bengals up 37-29.
• Buffalo State closed out the first half on a 5-0 run to take their largest lead of the game, 46-35, into halftime.
• Nico McLean (Buffalo/Amherst) started off the second half with a quick layup to push the Bengal lead out to 13.
• Point Park slowly started to chip away at Buffalo State's lead and at 13:38 managed to regain the lead.
• The score remained close until a 12-4 run by the Pioneers put them ahead 85-75 at 3:34.
• Despite pulling to within one point with just under 30 seconds in the game, Buffalo State was forced to foul and Point Park hit 3-of-4 free throws to seal the win.
• Buffalo State finished shooting 36% (31-86) from the field, 36.4% (12-33) from behind the arc and 62.5% (15-24) from the free throw line.
• The Bengals held a 61-42 advantage in total rebounds.
• Five different Bengals tallied double-digits. Gayer led the offense with 20 points. Smith added 19 points and seven rebounds. McLean and Jordan Chateau (Bayside/Lowell) each recorded double-doubles with 17 points, 12 rebounds and 13 points, 11 rebounds respectively. Jordan Glover (Buffalo/St. Joe's) chipped in 14 points and five assists.

 
FOR THE FOES

• Point Park finished shooting 47.1% (32-68) from the floor, 34.4% (11-32) from behind the arc and 59.3% (16-27) from the free throw line.
• Jerah'me Williams led the Pioneer offense with 25 points, while Kelvin Goodwin added 20 points and eight rebounds, and Konate chipped in 11 points.

 
UP NEXT
Buffalo State will return to action on Friday night as it hosts the Buffalo State Coles Classic. Bluffton and Nazareth will matchup in game one at 6 p.m. and then the Bengals will take on Villa Maria at 8 p.m.