Sports - The Spectrum

Brittany Morrison is a player on the women’s basketball team. She is a rebounding specialist.

SPORTS

UB women’s basketball power forward Brittany Morrison sheds light on relentless rebounding

By THOMAS ZAFONTE | Dec. 4, 2016

Brittany Morrison wants to be scoring insurance for the UB women’s basketball team. If the Bulls (6-0) miss a shot, three, or layup, the sophomore power forward wants to be there. Morrison has garnered a reputation amongst her teammates and coaches as a ruthless rebounder, despite being undersized. Morrison’s rebounding plays a fundamental part in the team's success, not just for second chance points, but for team confidence.

UB wrestler James Benjamin is having a breakout year so far this season.

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UB wrestler James Benjamin having breakout season

By BRIAN LARA | Dec. 4, 2016

James Benjamin came to UB for academics initially. But when John Stutzman came into the picture, Benjamin decided to wrestle. UB wrestling head coach John Stutzman used to coach at Bloomsburg University before he came to UB.

John Stutzman is UB’s head wrestling coach. It has been his dream since he was a wrestler here in the 1990s.

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Head coach John Stutzman brings toughness, winning culture to UB’s wrestling program

By BRIAN LARA | Nov. 30, 2016

The only fun thing about wrestling is getting your hand raised, according to UB head wrestling coach John Stutzman. However, after Stutzman’s first match in the seventh grade, his opponent had his hand raised.

Head coach Felisha Leggette-Jack stands with her freshman and transfers. She hopes they will help her win a second straight MAC Championship.

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New recruits add to the future of UB’s women’s basketball program

By BRIAN LARA | Nov. 30, 2016

Felisha Legette-Jack hopes people start paying attention to what’s happening in Western New York. She isn’t just hoping to build a team, she’s hoping to build a dynasty.

The Bulls came up short of a comeback and fell to the Bowling Green Falcons 27-19 Friday at Doyt Perry Stadium.

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UB football falls to Bowling Green 27-19

By DANIEL PETRUCCELLI | Nov. 26, 2016

With the end of their season in sight, UB’s football team nearly pulled off a comeback win on Saturday. “I don’t know if you’d call it a little bit of reckless abandon” said graduate transfer quarterback Grant Rohach. “Hey we were going for it, we were putting it down field regardless of if it was dicey or not, or risky, we were gonna leave it all out there.”

Two UB wrestlers grapple. The Bulls nearly upset No. 7 ranked Cornell this weekend.

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The rundown: wrestling scores near-upset, football gets shutout

By Sports Desk | Nov. 20, 2016

Football (2-9, 1-6 Mid-American Conference) The Bulls were underdogs coming into Saturday against Western Michigan (11-0, 7-0) and ultimately fell 38-0.

Branden Oliver runs the ball for a touchdown earlier this season for the San Diego Chargers. The former UB running back has been successful in the NFL.

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Q&A with former UB running back and current NFL player Branden Oliver

By Daniel Petrucceli | Nov. 20, 2016

DP: What was your time at Buffalo like? BO: It was great man, I think I did a lot. I know you always believe you’ll do great things but once it actually happens it’s surreal.

UB football huddles before a game. The Bulls lost to Western Michigan on Saturday.

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Western Michigan blows out UB football 38-0

By DANIEL PETRUCCELLI | Nov. 20, 2016

The No. 21 Western Michigan Broncos (11-0, 7-0 Mid-American Conference) came into Saturday to show off for the College Football Playoff committee. They did just that. The undefeated Broncos dictated the game and came away with a 38-0 blowout of the Buffalo Bulls (2-9, 1-6 MAC) at a packed Waldo Stadium. Bronco’s redshirt senior quarterback Zach Terrell torched the Buffalo defense for a career high 445 yards as well as four touchdowns. His favorite target, senior receiver Corey Davis had 13 catches for 173 yards and two touchdowns.

Head coach Felisha Legette-Jack talks to her team after a practice. Jack hopes to create a family atmosphere around her players where everyone is involved.

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UB Women’s basketball rides close-knit family atmosphere to second straight MAC title

By THOMAS ZAFONTE | Nov. 17, 2016

“Win the day.” That is the motto UB women’s basketball coach Felisha Legette-Jack preaches to her players.

Head coach Nate Oats stands with senior wing Willie Conner (left) and senior wing Blake Hamilton (right). The Bulls hope to win their third straight Mid-American Conference Championship this year.

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UB basketball begins quest for conference three-peat

By MICHAEL AKELSON | Nov. 16, 2016

The formula for success in mid-major college basketball is simple: recruit well, keep as much year-to-year fluidity as possible and create a winning atmosphere with a good coach.

JoAnna Smith (left) and Stephanie Reid (right) pose for a picture. Reid and Smith will be key to Buffalo’s hopes of a MAC Championship repeat.

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UB women's basketball players Stephanie Reid and Joanna Smith set out to take the MAC by storm

By DANIEL PETRUCCELLI and THOMAS ZAFONTE | Nov. 16, 2016

UB women’s basketball managed to pull off several upsets on their way to a Mid-American Conference Championship and NCAA tournament berth last year.

Freshman point guard Davonta Jordan dribbles the ball. Jordan will play big minutes at point guard for the Bulls this season.

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UB basketball hopes Davonta Jordan can fill former point guard Lamonte Bearden’s shoes

By MICHAEL AKELSON | Nov. 16, 2016

Davonta Jordan, a talented young point guard who had just graduated high school, found himself looking for a school late in the summer.

Head coach John Stutzman talks to his team. Stutzman hopes UB wrestling can take a major jump this season.

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UB wrestling looks toward future

By BRIAN LARA | Nov. 14, 2016

Since John Stutzman took over the UB wrestling program in 2013, the program has experienced a renaissance.

Sophomore Brandon Williams celebrates a tackle. Bulls lost senior day game to Miami (OH).

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Gridiron report card: UB versus Miami (OH)

By DANIEL PETRUCCELLI | Nov. 14, 2016

Saturday afternoon was rough for the Buffalo Bulls (2-8, 1-5 Mid-American Conference) football team.

UB senior captains Russell Cicerone and Braden Scales walk the field. Cicerone and Scales may have played their last game for the program after Sunday’s loss.

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Men’s soccer says goodbye to one of greatest recruiting classes after MAC Championship loss

By MICHAEL AKELSON | Nov. 13, 2016

In the first half of Sunday’s Mid-American Conference Championship Game, the Akron Zips outshot the Buffalo Bulls 13-0. By the end of the game, Akron had outshot UB 25-4 and had a 15-0 edge in corner kicks.

Sophomore Brandon Williams celebrates a tackle. Bulls lost senior day game to Miami Ohio.

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UB football falls to Miami 35-24

By DANIEL PETRUCCELLI | Nov. 12, 2016

In their final home game of the year, the Bulls (2-8, 1-5 Mid-American Conference) were defeated by the Miami RedHawks (5-6, 5-2 MAC) 35-24 at UB Stadium. Bulls redshirt freshman quarterback Tyree Jackson finished the day 12-of-27 for 96 yards before being pulled with a leg injury late in the third quarter. Miami sophomore defensive back De’Andre Montgomery finished the game with two defensive touchdowns, scoring both within five minutes of each other.

Junior defenseman David Enstrom tries to steal a ball. Enstrom scored Buffalo's winning goal in overtime against Bowling Green.

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UB men’s soccer advances to MAC Championship game for second consecutive year

By DANIEL PETRUCCELLI | Nov. 12, 2016

The Bulls (12-3-3, 3-1-2 MAC) eked out a 2-1 overtime win on Friday in the MAC semifinal game against the Bowling Green Falcons (9-7-4, 2-1-3 MAC) at Cub Cadet Field. For the second consecutive year, the Bulls will face the Akron Zips (11-5-3, 3-1-1) in the MAC Championship game.

Left to right: Anthone Taylor, Jordan Johnson, Jonathan Hawkins and Branden Oliver are among UB running backs coached by Matt Simon.

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UB football running back coach Matt Simon keeps Buffalo’s rich running back tradition

By DANIEL PETRUCCELLI | Nov. 11, 2016

For years now, the running back position has been among the strongest position groups for UB’s football team. This is thanks to Matt Simon, UB’s (2-7, 1-4 Mid-American Conference) running back coach and one of the only coaches to be retained after the team underwent a massive overhaul two years ago.

UB running back coach Matt Simon talks to Tyree Jackson at a practice. UB will take on Miami (OH) this Saturday.

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The Edge: previewing UB football versus Miami (OH)

By DANIEL PETRUCCELLI | Nov. 10, 2016

The Buffalo Bulls (2-7, 1-4 Mid-American Conference) are coming off nine days rest as they prepare to face the Miami (OH) RedHawks (4-6, 4-2 MAC) on Saturday.

Freshman forward Quate McKinzie guards a Daemen player. Men’s basketball opened up the season in an exhibition match against the Wildcats on Friday night.

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The Rundown: Men’s soccer qualifies for MAC Tournament, men’s and women’s basketball open seasons

By Sports Desk | Nov. 7, 2016

Men’s soccer (11-3-3, 2-1-2 Mid-American Conference) The men’s soccer team closed out their season with a 0-0 tie against the Bowling Green Falcons (9-5-4, 2-0-3 MAC). The Bulls entered the game controlling their own destiny in MAC tournament seeding.