BUFFALO, NY – The Buffalo State men's basketball team hits the road as the Bengals near the midway point of the regular season with matchups against New Paltz and Oneonta. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday in New Paltz, and 7:30 p.m. in Oneonta.
Live Links
New Paltz –
LIVE STATS VIDEO
Oneonta –
LIVE STATS VIDEO
Eyes on the Bengals
-Buffalo State enters the contests with a 1-10 overall record and a 0-4 mark in conference contests. The Bengals were last in action Tuesday night, falling to the conference co-leaders in Oswego by a 109-72 score. The Bengals shot a solid 45.5 percent (30-of-66) from the field in the loss, the highest mark against an NCAA Division III opponent this season. The Bengals shot a season-best 45.9 percent (34-of-74) against Division II D'Youville in its lone victory on Dec. 7.
-Junior
Daron Hughey (Hartford, CT/The Masters School) leads three Bengals in double figures, averaging 11.4 points on 45 percent shooting from the field and 36 percent from 3-point range.
-Sophomore co-captain
Aaron Davis (Beacon, NY/Beacon) is the lone Bengal to compete in all 11 games this season, averaging 10.4 points and a team-leading 3.7 assists per game.
-Junior
Philbert Weekes (Brooklyn, NY/Lafayette) is averaging a double-double with 10.4 points and 13.4 rebounds per game. His 13.4 rebounds ranks eighth nationally.
-Sophomore
Marquell Boutwell (Liverpool, NY/Nottingham) is nearing a double-double in conference play, averaging 9.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. He also leads the team with 12 blocked shots overall.
Breaking Down the Hawks
-New Paltz enters the late-week contest with a 6-5 overall record and a 3-2 mark in the SUNYAC. The Hawks took down Brockport on the road by a 90-78 margin in its last game. The Hawks have alternated wins and losses in conference play so far this season.
-As a team, New Paltz is tied for the conference lead in scoring offense, averaging 77 points per game.
-Individually, sophomore Rylan Blondo leads the team with 17.8 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.
-Sophomore Solomon Neuhaus is one of the league's best deep threats, knocking down a league-leading 33 3-pointers at a .388 clip.
-Defensively, sophomore Tyreik Frazier leads the conference and is 13th nationally with 31 blocked shots.
The History
Buffalo State holds a 36-15 edge all-time against New Paltz. In its last game nearly two years ago on Feb. 15, 2020, the Bengals snapped a three-game losing streak to the Hawks with a 79-70 victory at the Buffalo State Sports Arena.
Breaking Down the Red Dragons
-Oneonta enters the late-week series with a 6-6 overall record and a 2-3 mark in conference contests. The Red Dragons will take on Fredonia Thursday before facing the Bengals Friday night. Oneonta is looking to get back on track after a four-game losing streak, including a 91-68 loss at Geneseo last Saturday.
-As a team, New Paltz is second in the conference in rebounding and steals, averaging 43.3 caroms and 9.3 steals per game.
-Individually, junior Michael Ortale Jr. leads the team in multiple categories, including scoring (16.4 ppg.), rebounding (8.9 rpg.), minutes (37.1 mpg.), and blocked shots (11).
-Sophomore Frankie Williams is next with 16.0 points, shooting 36 percent from 3-point range.
-Junior Dylan Trombley is the team's best 3-point threat with 26 made threes, averaging 14.6 points per game.
-Senior Sean Nolan paces the Oneonta offense with 4.2 assists per game.
The History
Buffalo State holds a 32-17 edge all-time over Oneonta, but the Red Dragons have won the last four games and six of the last seven. The Bengals won three straight and nine of 12 prior to the current streak. The Red Dragons won 88-76 in their last matchup on Feb. 14, 2020 in Buffalo.
