BRONX, N.Y.—Buffalo State let a 14-point second-half lead slip away, but erased a nine-point deficit of its own in the first overtime to extend the game, and then claimed a 119-116 double-overtime victory over New Jersey City University today in the opening game of the Lehman College Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.
 
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Buffalo State – 119, New Jersey City – 116 (2 OT)
LOCATION:  Lehman College (Coaches vs. Cancer Classic), Bronx, N.Y.
RECORDS: Buffalo State (6-2), New Jersey City (7-3)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Nico McLean (Buffalo/Amherst) led five Bengals scoring in double figures with 30 points to go with five steals.
• Michael Henry (Syracuse/W. Genesee) added 29 points, and Lovell Smith (Buffalo/McKinley) had 20 points, eight rebounds and four steals.
• Jordan Glover (Buffalo/St. Joe's) chipped in 15 points and five steals, and Kevin Marmolejos (Woodhaven/Beach Channel) netted 12 points.
• Buffalo State jumped out to an early 10-2 lead and appeared to be in control for much of regulation.  The Bengals led by as many as 16 in the first half and took a 55-45 lead into the break.
• The Bengals continued to keep the Gothic Knights in check for much of the second half, pushing the lead back to as high as 14, and still led 81-68 with 10 minutes remaining. 
• NJCU started to chip away from there, however, and finally tied the game for the first time since 2-2 at 94-94 with a 3-pointer with just two seconds remaining to force overtime.
• The Gothic Knights carried the momentum into the first overtime, building a nine-point lead, but roared back and Henry nailed a late 3-pointer to knot the score at 110-110 to extend the contest.
• Henry hit a layup midway through the second overtime to finally give the Bengals a lead they would not relinquish.  NJCU had a chance to tie the game again with five seconds remaining, but only hit 1 of 2 free throws, and Marmolejos hit a pair from the charity stripe at the other end to push the lead to three with just three ticks remaining.  An NJCU 3-point attempt was off the mark at the buzzer, preserving the Bengals' victory.

 
FOR THE FOES

• Chinwe Wosu led NJCU with 22 points and 12 rebounds
• Jalen Harris added 21 points, and Yuri Brutus scored 20.

 
NOTEWORTHY

• The 112 (58 by Buffalo State and 54 by NJCU) combined free throw attempts broke the NCAA Division III record.  The previous record was 105 by Earlham (71) vs, Oberlin (34) set on Dec. 5, 1992.
• Buffalo State's 119 points were the second-highest total ever allowed by NJCU (120).
• NJCU's 39 fouls were the most ever committed by a Buffalo State opponent, and the combined total of 73 also broke a 43-year old school record.
• Buffalo State also set a school record with 39 free throws made.

 
UP NEXT
Buffalo State will face the winner of Lehman/Western Connecticut State in tomorrow's title game at 6 p.m.