BUFFALO, NY – The Buffalo State men's basketball dropped their home-opener in heartbreaking fashion, 81-83, at the hands of the Houghton University Highlanders.

GAME BASICS

FINAL SCORE: Houghton University – 83, Buffalo State – 81
LOCATION: Sports Arena – Buffalo, NY
RECORDS: Buffalo State: 2-4 (0-0 SUNYAC), Houghton University: 5-2 (0-0 Empire 8)

INSIDE THE BENGAL BOX SCORE

• Bryce Williams (Jamaica, NY/Campus Magnet) led the Bengals in scoring with 15 points, going 6-15 from the field, with two three-pointers. Nate Severson (Hamburg, NY/Hamburg) and Oryan DeJesus (Schenectady, NY/ Mekeel Christian Academy) backed up Williams, scoring 11 points each.
• Maley McCurty (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham) led the Bengals with eight rebounds on the night. Matt Parkinson (Springfield Gardens, NY/ John Browne) chipped in with six rebounds for the night.
• The Bengals shot 50.8% from the floor, while going 70.0% from the free-throw line.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Making their home-debut in the Sports Arena and the final home matchup before the Thanksgiving break, the Bengals looked to spread some holiday joy to their friends and families against the Highlanders. As play began, both teams came out trading baskets, with the Highlanders splashing early three-pointers to open a four-point lead. The Bengals would respond with some threes of their own, tying the contest up early in the first half but the Highlanders would respond with a nine-point run, extending out to a ten-point lead over the Bengals as halftime neared. Luckily for the Bengals, some late baskets before the final seconds of the first half saw the Bengals slim the lead down to seven-points, with the Highlanders up 44-37 heading into halftime.
• In the second half, the Bengals would start to attack the Highlanders, pressuring their ballhandlers as they made their way up the floor. This pressure would force some turnovers, and give the Bengals some easy baskets, bringing the Highlanders lead down to five points. However, the Highlanders responded well, going on a mini-run to bring the game outside of arms reach for the Bengals, with a 14-point lead. With their backs against the wall and time running down, the Bengals dug deep and continued to play great basketball, pressuring the Highlanders into turnovers and creating second chances at the basket. With some clutch shooting by Severson, the Highlanders saw their lead collapse to single digits, with the Bengals down by two-points. In the final seconds looking for a tie, the Bengals had opportunities to tie the game and bring this matchup into overtime, but the Highlanders defense maintained their ground and took this matchup from the Bengals, 83-81.

FOR THE FOES

• Lou Bellamy led the Highlanders in scoring with 23 points, with Christian Sage scoring 19 points. Bellamy also led the Highlanders with nine rebounds on the night.

UP NEXT
The Bengals will return from the Thanksgiving break, starting a three-game road stretch as the visit the SUNY Oneonta Red Dragons, Friday, December 6^th at 7:30 P.M.