BUFFALO, N.Y.— Aaron Collins hit a game-tying 3-pointer to send the game into overtime, but the Buffalo State men's basketball team stayed poised through the extra session, pulling out a 79-75 overtime victory over Fredonia in SUNYAC action Saturday afternoon.
 
GAME BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Buffalo State –79, Fredonia – 75
LOCATION:  Buffalo State Sports Arena – Buffalo, N.Y.
RECORDS:  Buffalo State (5-17, 4-11 SUNYAC), Fredonia (3-19, 3-12)


INSIDE THE BENGAL BOX SCORE

• Philbert Weekes (Brooklyn, NY/Lafayette) tallied his fifth double-double of the season, a 25-point, 14-rebound effort, adding two blocked shots.
• Marquell Boutwell (Liverpool, N.Y./Nottingham) also tallied a double-double off the bench with 11 points and a career-high 17 rebounds. He made all five of his shots from the field.
• DaRon Hughey (Hartford, CT/The Masters School) scored all 13 of his points in the second half and overtime, adding four rebounds.
• Richards led all scorers with 16 points, shooting 7-of-14 from the field. He added four rebounds and two blocks, including the game-winner.
• Aaron Davis (Beacon, N.Y./Beacon) and Robert Richards (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) each tallied nine points.
• The Bengals shot 37.3 percent (31-of-83) from the field and outrebounded the Blue Devils by a 51-44 margin.
• They also earned 24 second-chance points off a season-best 24 offensive rebounds.
• The Bengals have won three of the last four games.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• It was a seesaw first 15 minutes, as neither team led by more than three points.
• With the game tied at 24 under the five-minute mark, Fredonia went on a 6-0 run to take a 30-24 lead with 2:10 to go.
• 'State responded with a traditional three-point play by Davis, as they trailed by three.
• Kreem George scored on a second-chance basket with 49 seconds to go, as the visitors went into halftime with a 32-27 lead.
• Fredonia stretched its lead to as many as 11 points (61-50) with 7:11 to go in regulation.
• With its backs against the wall, Buffalo State chipped away at the Fredonia lead, beginning with a Hughey 3-pointer.
• Weekes and Boutwell then scored baskets on consecutive possessions as the Bengals trailed by four, 61-57.
• Down six (63-57) with 5:03 to go, the Bengals' defense held Fredonia scoreless for five minutes as the hosts mounted a comeback.
• Weekes hit a pair of free throws to reduce the deficit to four, then Brendyn Cheng (Wantagh, NY/Commack) hit a floater in the paint to bring it down to two (63-61) with 3:26 to go.
• Weeks then converted on a hook shot in the paint to tie the game at 63 with 1:51 remaining.
• Three free throws in the final 45 seconds gave the Bengals a 66-63 lead with 19.7 seconds remaining in regulation.
• With time winding down, Collins took a deep 3-pointer from the wing with 0.9 seconds left, beating the buzzer as the teams went into overtime tied at 66.
• Undeterred, Hughey scored five points for the Bengals in the opening minutes, as the Bengals led 71-68.
• Up one (71-70) midway through the extra session, Cheng finished a layup while getting fouled, converting on the three-point play as the Bengals led by four.
• Hughey then hit a tough jumper with 52 seconds left to give the Bengals a 76-70 lead.
• Fredonia converted on a three-point play of their own, as Adesoji Tiamiyu brought the Blue Devils to within three with 38 seconds left.
• Weekes then put the game to bed on the low post, powering into the paint with a basket while getting fouled, as a third three-point play put the game to bed.

 
FOR THE FOES

• Collins led all scorers with 26 points, shooting 7-of-11 from 3-point range.
• George added 16 points and eight rebounds.
• Fredonia shot 42.4 percent (28-of-66) from the field and made 10 3-point shots.

 
NOTABLES

• The Hamburg Little Cagers participated in an exhibition during halftime of the men's game, astounding the fans in attendance after a solid shooting performance.

 
UP NEXT
The Bengals host Cortland in the final home game of the regular season, on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.