While students were at home enjoying the holidays with their families, Buffalo student-athletes didn't get a break. After posting a school record 3.039 GPA last semester, winter teams competed over winter break and experienced varying degrees of success.
Men's basketball
The Bulls (5-11, 0-2 Mid-American Conference) continued to struggle over the break, losing four of their five games.
Two of their losses came against MAC rivals: Ohio (11-5, 2-0 MAC) on Jan. 9 and Miami Ohio (6-8, 1-1 MAC) on Saturday. Buffalo failed to keep up with the Bobcats - as has been a trend in recent years - and fell 86-68, followed by a heartbreaking last-second 58-57 loss to the Redhawks.
The Bulls will look to resolve their offensive struggles as they play host to Kent State (10-6, 1-1 MAC) Wednesday night. Tip off is at 7 p.m.
Women's basketball
Although the Bulls may not have the best overall record, they are currently undefeated in conference play.
Freshman guard Mackenzie Loesing, who averages 17 points and five rebounds in conference play, led the Bulls (4-11, 2-0 MAC) to victories over Northern Illinois (5-10, 0-2 MAC) on Jan. 10 and Ohio (5-9, 0-2 MAC) on Sunday.
It is the first time the Bulls have started 2-0 in conference play since the 2007-08 season. They look to keep their conference streak alive as they travel to Kent State (2-13, 0-2 MAC) this Wednesday. Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Swimming and diving
The men's and women's swimming and diving team showed no signs of lost energy as the athletes competed against Niagara on Jan 12 after a five-week break from competition.
Senior Brittany Kuras won both of her events, the 1,000-yard freestyle and the 100-yard breaststroke, leading the women to a sweep and a 138-49 victory, which brings their season record to a solid 4-0.
The men also swept the Purple Eagles, winning every event en route to a 147-80 win. Senior Shawn Hoffman paced the Bulls with wins in both diving competitions.
The Bulls also earned wins in the 1,000-yard and 200-yard freestyle as freshman Antonio Lanzi and senior Cory Zorsch, respectively, picked up wins.
UB travels to Bowling Green on Saturday for a tri-meet that will feature visiting Michigan State as well as the host Falcons. On Sunday, the Bulls face MAC rival Miami Ohio in Oxford, Ohio.
Track and field
The men's and women's track and field team opened up its 2013 indoor campaign on Friday and participated in the Eastern Michigan University Triangular.
The Bulls finished third, behind Akron and Eastern Michigan. The men scored 77 points while the women scored 75.
The victorious women's 4 x 400 meter relay team posted a time of 3:55.88, three seconds faster than Eastern Michigan's second-place time.
The men garnered a win from junior shot put Jonathan Jones, who finished with a top throw of 59-5.50 (18.12m).
The track and field team continues its indoor season on the road next Saturday at the Cornell Upstate Challenge.
Wrestling
The Bulls (0-6, 0-1 Mid-American Conference) hosted powerhouse programs Iowa (12-0, 2-0 Big Ten Conference) and Edinboro (6-3, 1-0 Pennsylvania Athletic Conference), and fell 39-3 to the Hawkeyes Dec. 17 and 28-9 to the Fighting Scots Jan. 6.
They also suffered a loss to Bloomsberg, 18-15, the night after they faced the Hawkeyes.
The Bulls went winless at the Virginia Duals on Jan. 11 against Boise State (4-5, 0-1 Mountain West Conference) and Bucknell (3-7) by scores of 29-9 and 20-16, respectively.
In the tournament circuit, seniors Mark Lewandowski and John-Martin Cannon both placed impressively at the Midlands Championships on Dec. 29. Lewandowski finished sixth and Cannon picked up a fourth-place finish, just missing the podium.
On the same day, four Bulls placed inside the top four at the Brute Invitational, but the team finished seventh out of 12.
The season continues on Friday as the wrestling team hosts Eastern Michigan (5-9, 0-1 MAC). The meet is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Email: sports@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Paul Hokanson/UB Athletics
