Sports - The Spectrum

Cierra Dillard gets ready to drive the ball into the hoop. Dillard will be a major factor in these weeks game against the Canisius Golden Griffins.

SPORTS

The Edge: Buffalo vs. Canisius

By THOMAS ZAFONTE | Dec. 7, 2017

The Bulls are coming into their game against the Canisius Golden Griffins after going 1-1 at the Arizona State Classic. They had a strong game in their last outing beating the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Rebels 80-53. The Bulls (5-1, 0-0) look like the better team on paper heading into Thursday’s home game. The Bulls have been able to get results on both sides of the ball unlike the Golden Griffins (2-5, 0-0), and it shows in both teams’ records.

Cutline: Redshirt sophomore running back Emmanuel Reed pushes for the endzone. The Bulls were bowl eligible this season but did not receive an invite to a game.

SPORTS

Bulls season is over

By DANIEL PETRUCCELLI | Dec. 4, 2017

UB’s bowl hopes are officially over. The 6-6 (4-4 Mid-American Campus) Bulls became bowl eligible this season for just the third time in school history.

SPORTS

The rundown

By Sports Desk | Dec. 4, 2017

Men’s Basketball vs. Niagara Purple Eagles (3-5) 106-87 The Bulls scored over the century mark on Wednesday night for the first time this season.

Freshman guard Jayvon Graves takes a shot against St. Bonaventure. Graves finished Saturday with three blocks.

SPORTS

Bulls drop final Big 4 game

By DANIEL PETRUCCELLI | Dec. 3, 2017

UB entered Saturday with a chance to sweep the Big 4 but fell short against the St. Bonaventure Bonnies. The Bulls (4-3) lost 73-62 to the Bonnies (5-2) in front of a crowd of 6,212 at Alumni Arena.

Junior forward Nick Perkins goes up for a shot in between two defenders. Perkins has been a force in the paint for the Bulls so far this season.

SPORTS

The edge: Buffalo vs. St. Bonaventure

By JEREMY TORRES | Nov. 30, 2017

The men’s basketball team is hoping to make the jump into the elite category of MAC teams. Predicted to win the MAC East, the team has already picked up some hard fought games. The Bulls continue their season Saturday at home when they take on St. Bonaventure. Like the Bulls (4-2, 0-0), the Bonnies (3-2, 0-0) run a three-guard attack. They will match up well against the Bulls and challenge them throughout during a high scoring, fast pace affair.

SPORTS

Taste of history

By JEREMY TORRES | Nov. 20, 2017

Former Buffalo Bills player and Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas spoke at the Buffalo History Museum Thursday. He debuted “Icons: The Makers and Moments of Buffalo Sports,” named “The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Gallery” due to a donation of $600,000 by the Wilson family. The gallery displays significant moments and athletes in Buffalo’s history.

Junior forward Ikenna Smart slamming home a dunk for the Bulls.

SPORTS

'Harder, better, faster, smart-er': Basketball player recovers from injury

By DANIEL PETRUCCELLI | Nov. 20, 2017

Ikenna Smart suffered from the latter. The junior forward had soreness in his back that nagged him last season. Six feet 10 inches and 241 pounds is a lot of body to support with a bad back. Smart had surgery on his back during the offseason and is expected to return to the court for the Bulls by the end of December. He plans on being better than he was a season ago now that he’s healthy.

Junior guard Cierra Dillard dribbling the ball in practice. Dillard is looking to be a top scorer for the Bulls this year.

SPORTS

Getting the shot back

By THOMAS ZAFONTE | Nov. 16, 2017

Cierra Dillard had to sit out the first basketball season of her UB career. Dillard was the top scorer at UMass Amherst averaging 15.5 points a game and having 60 steals in her 2015-16 season. She had to sit out the 2016-17 season due to NCAA transfer rules. Dillard made her return on Nov. 3 in an exhibition game against the Bloomsburg Huskies (1-1). She went 1-5 recording 2 points in the Bulls 64-32 win.

UB’s guards look to attack with the basket. The Bulls are looking to find a permanent fixture for a player to run the point guard position.

SPORTS

Who’s on point?

By DANIEL PETRUCCELLI | Nov. 16, 2017

Former UB point guard Lamonte Bearden threw a curveball at the men’s basketball team last summer. Bearden, who led the team to their second Mid-American Conference title, announced he was transferring. The team has never truly established a point guard since.

The Spectrum spoke with Bulls head coach Felicia Legette-Jack. Legette-Jack will look to lead her experienced team to a MAC title.

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Q&A with Bulls Head Coach Felisha Legette-Jack

By THOMAS ZAFONTE | Nov. 16, 2017

The Bulls (2-0, 0-0 MAC) are only two games into the season and already look impressive on both sides of the ball. Much of that success should be attributed to head coach Felisha Legette-Jack and the coaching staff. The Spectrum met with Legette-Jack to talk about the upcoming season, the team’s previous success, her process on becoming the Bulls’ head coach and more.

The Spectrum spoke with Bulls Head Coach Nate Oats. Oats enters his third year as head coach for the Bulls and will be looking to win his second MAC title.

SPORTS

Q&A with Bulls Head Coach Oats

By DANIEL PETRUCCELLI | Nov. 16, 2017

Buffalo lost their leader in points and assists, Blake Hamilton. They retained two preseason all-MAC selections: junior guard CJ Massinburg and junior forward Nick Perkins. With only seven returning players, the team will be relying mostly on their new players to help them reach those projected results. The Spectrum spoke with Bulls Head Coach Nate Oats about his thoughts on the season.

Sophomore guard Davonta Jordan pushes to the hoop. The Bulls picked up their first win of the season the past Friday against the Canisius Golden Griffins.

SPORTS

The rundown

By Sports Desk | Nov. 13, 2017

Football (4-6, 2-4 MAC) UB football got things back on track when they beat the Bowling Green Falcons (2-8, 2-4 MAC) 38-28. Tyree Jackson had his second straight game with a career-high in passing yards. The redshirt sophomore quarterback finished with 406 yards and three touchdowns.

Men's basketball head manager Wesley Scheier stands center court holding practice jerseys. Scheier handles many important tasks, including feeding the team.

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Not his first rodeo: head men’s basketball manager discusses wranglin’ the Bulls

By JEREMY TORRES | Nov. 13, 2017

As the Bulls traveled to Cleveland for the 2017 men’s MAC tournament, the team received a text from the equipment manager. Anarchy ensued. The game was the next day and the practice jerseys were nowhere to be found. Wesley Scheier was to blame.

The Bulls huddle after the game. They will be playing in the MAC tournament starting on Nov. 16.

SPORTS

On the cusp of greatness

By THOMAS ZAFONTE | Nov. 13, 2017

The Bulls (15-12, 8-8 MAC) did not have an easy end to their season. They were pitted against the Bowling Green Falcons (17-10, 13-3 MAC) and the Miami (OH) Redhawks (21-8, 13-3 MAC) this past weekend in their final home and regular season games.

Junior forward Nick Perkins fights through contact for a shot. Perkins finished Saturday with a career-high 26 points.

SPORTS

Starting off on the right foot: UB men's basketball beats Canisius 80-75

By DANIEL PETRUCCELLI | Nov. 11, 2017

UB basketball almost had its season opener spoiled Saturday night. In a real nail-biter, the Bulls were down for nine of the final 10 minutes.

Junior guard CJ Massinburg dribbles the ball up the court. Massinburg was selected to the preseason all-MAC team for the east division.

SPORTS

Replace and reload: A preview of the upcoming men’s basketball season

By DANIEL PETRUCCELLI | Nov. 9, 2017

UB men’s basketball was the MAC coaches preseason pick to win the Mid-American Conference East Division, but they have to replace three of their top five scorers from last season. The Bulls only have seven players still on their roster from last season; three of them were selected to all-MAC squads. This includes reigning MAC sixth man of the year, junior forward Nick Perkins, and the current MAC defensive player of the year, junior guard Dontay Caruthers.

Eight months after UB cutting four Division I teams, the club rowing team continues to wait for a decision from SUNY on use of the former rowing teams equipment.

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The waiting game: The club rowing team continues to wait for SUNY decision on former Division I team equipment

By THOMAS ZAFONTE | Nov. 9, 2017

SUNY officials remain tight-lipped about whether they’ll allow UB’s club rowers to use tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment that formerly belonged to the Division I rowing team, which the university eliminated last year. UB is looking to resolve the situation soon, with the situation entering its eighth month and the club’s fall season already over.

Sophomore quarterback Tyree Jackson running out of the pocket. Jackson lead the Bulls to a 38-28 win over the Bowling Green Falcons Tuesday night.

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Bulls snap 4-game skid at home

By CHRISTOPHER SMITH | Nov. 8, 2017

The Buffalo Bulls (4-6, 2-4 MAC) came into Tuesday night’s game with a must win mentality after losing their previous four games, all in heartbreaking fashion.

Members of the UB Breakdancing club performing. The UB Breakdancing club helps cultivate breakdancing and learn the craft on campus

SPORTS

You're fresh, but he's fresher: UB B-boy dishes on breakdancing in Buffalo

By JEREMY TORRES | Nov. 6, 2017

Boom-bap, ’90s hip-hop music echoes through the flag room in the Student Union on Monday evenings. The piano playing has stopped and the room becomes a stage for Justin Ceniza, dressed in a backwards baseball cap, hoop earrings and a jumpsuit Run-DMC would envy. Ceniza, a senior psychology major, is the president of UB’s Breakdancing club. B-boys and B-girls around Buffalo have gathered at the club to express their art and love for dancing since the club was founded in 2006.

Senior center Cassie Oursler gets ready to make a shot. The Bulls start their season this Friday against the Delaware Blue Hens (0-0, 0-0 CAA) at 1 p.m. at Alumni Arena.

SPORTS

Women's basketball season preview

By THOMAS ZAFONTE | Nov. 6, 2017

Two seasons ago, head coach Felisha Legette-Jack led the women’s basketball team to their first MAC championship. The Bulls feel they have the experience, skill and team culture to have another championship season now that the players from the 2015-2016 season are seniors.