BUFFALO, NY – Emerald Smart (Brooklyn, NY/James Madison) of the Buffalo State football team and Diego Rivera (East Meadow, NY/Cairo Durham) of the Buffalo State men's soccer team have been named Bengal Athletes of the Week presented by UBMD Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine.

Smart, a sophomore defensive back, picked up his first two career interceptions in Buffalo State's Liberty League win over Hilbert on Saturday. His second interception came late in the fourth quarter with Hilbert threatening in the red zone that would eventually seal the win for the Bengals.

The football team will welcome Union on Saturday for Homecoming at 4:00 pm.

Rivera, a senior childhood education major, posted another stellar performance for Buffalo State scoring five goals with an assist in the team's SUNYAC win over Potsdam. Rivera has now scored in all but one game for the Bengals and leads the SUNYAC with 40 points and 17 goals. He also leads the nation in goals scored as well as points while posting multi-goal performances five times this year. Rivera was also named SUNYAC Athlete of the Week for the fifth time this year.

The men's soccer team returns to action tomorrow as they will travel to Morrisville to battle the Mustangs.