Sports - The Spectrum

Freshman guard CJ Massinburg drives up the floor, looking to make a play. The freshman guard from Dallas, Texas has made a splash as a backup guard this season for the Bulls.

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The rise of CJ Buckets: Hard work pays off for UB Bull CJ Massinburg

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Feb. 23, 2016

The maturation of “CJ Buckets” – the imposed nickname True Blue chants when Massinburg hits a pair of free throws or just when the student fans feel like doing it – has been unparalleled by any other freshman on the Bulls (16-12, 9-6 Mid-American Conference) this season. Within a year, Massinburg went from an unknown, unsigned high school senior, to the semi-occasional starting point guard of a Division-I basketball team gearing up for its conference tournament.

Solomon Jackson poses for a photo during a Bulls' practice in August of 2015. Jackson passed away Monday evening - one week after suffering a medical emergency at team practice.

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UB football player Solomon Jackson in critical condition

By Jordan Grossman | Feb. 22, 2016

UB football player Solomon Jackson has been hospitalized at Buffalo General Medical Center following a medical emergency during a Bulls conditioning session Monday morning. Medical personnel at the hospital told The Spectrum Monday night that Jackson was in critical condition. Jackson’s family declined comment.

Senior guard Jarryn Skeete looks to convert a free throw. The Bulls snapped their three-game losing streak with a 88-74 home victory over Bowling Green.

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UB Bulls quick hits: Basketball picks up key victories, baseball winless

By Sports Desk | Feb. 21, 2016

The men’s squad went 1-1 this past week and ended its three-game losing streak after an 88-74 home victory over Bowling Green (13-14, 4-10 MAC). Earlier in the week, Buffalo lost on the road to top-seeded Akron (21-6, 10-4 MAC) 80-70 before heading back home to take the victory over the Falcons.

Brad Bailey and Zach LaMacchia share a moment on the sideline during intermission. The Bulls defeated St. John Fisher 3-1 on Saturday. .

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UB men’s ice hockey advances to semifinals

By Landin Murphy | Feb. 21, 2016

From fans heckling the St. John Fisher goaltender with chants of his name and making fun of his mother’s cooking, to even a fight between the two teams sprawling out on the ice, both teams battled in effort to move on to the National Collegiate Hockey Association Semifinals. But in the end it was Buffalo’s speed and puck control that was the reason for the team advancing to the NCHA Semifinals in Rochester, New York.

Junior guard Joanna Smith puts up a shot against a Miami Ohio defender in Buffalo's 58-39 victory at Alumni Arena on Feb. 20.

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UB women’s basketball defense shuts down Miami Ohio 58-39

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Feb. 20, 2016

The Bulls (13-12, 5-9 Mid-American Conference) had a great third quarter as they scored 23 points and kept Miami Ohio’s (9-16, 3-11 MAC) offense in check with a full court press en route to a 58-39 victory at Alumni Arena Saturday afternoon. The victory moved the Bulls to third place in the MAC East, surpassing Bowling Green (9-14, 5-9 MAC).

Junior wing Blake Hamilton scored a career-high 24 points in an 88-74 win against Bowling Green at Alumni Arena on Feb. 20.

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UB Bulls snap losing streak, win key matchup over Bowling Green

By Jordan Grossman | Feb. 20, 2016

The Bulls (15-12, 8-6 MAC) put up 50 second-half points en route to an 88-74 victory over Bowling Green (13-14, 4-10 MAC) in front of an announced crowd of 3,397 at Alumni Arena Saturday afternoon. Hamilton scored 16 of his career-high 24 points in the second half as the Bulls snapped their three-game losing streak.

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UB baseball optimistic despite preseason rankings

By Jordan Grossman | Feb. 19, 2016

The Bulls are preparing to open the 2016 season with a three-game tournament this weekend in Davidson, North Carolina.

Junior catcher/outfielder Ashton Earnhardt slides safely into second base.

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UB softball team looking to win despite freshman-filled lineup

By MICHAEL AKELSON | Feb. 19, 2016

Buffalo, which went just 13-37 in Peel’s second season last year after an impressive and unexpected conference championship game appearance in 2014, is going to be relying on freshman heavily this season. Eight of the team’s 21 players are freshmen.

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UB men’s basketball preview: Bulls focused on finishing as MAC Tournament approaches

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Feb. 19, 2016

Buffalo hosts Bowling Green (13-13, 4-9 MAC) Saturday and Kent State (17-9, 8-5 MAC) Tuesday in Alumni Arena. Oats remains hopeful that his team can get right back on track.

Head coach Felisha Legette-Jack argues with a referee during Buffalo's 70-55 loss to Eastern Michigan at Alumni Arena on Wednesday.

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UB women’s basketball loses by 15 in ‘passive’ performance

By Edward Goldschmid | Feb. 18, 2016

The Bulls (12-12, 4-9 Mid-American Conference) continued their downward slide with a 70-55 loss to Eastern Michigan (16-8, 7-6 MAC) that caused Legette-Jack to apologize to Buffalo’s fans and athletic director.

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UB women’s basketball preview: Bulls face fellow struggling teams

By Jordan Grossman | Feb. 18, 2016

The Bulls (12-12, 4-9 MAC) gave up 70 points for the second time in three games and are slowly sinking to the bottom of the conference. After automatically advancing to Cleveland for the MAC Tournament the past two seasons, Buffalo will likely have to play a first round campus game.

Senior guard Jarryn Skeete makes a layup in Buffalo's 71-69 loss to Akron on Feb. 9. Skeete and the Bulls fell 80-70 on the road to Akron Tuesday night, the team's third straight loss.

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UB Bulls drop third straight game without Bearden

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Feb. 17, 2016

The men’s basketball team was a solid defensive half away from knocking off the hottest team in the Mid-American Conference. But Akron reminded the Bulls which team is the best three-point shooter in the league.

Brian Crimmins has broken multiple UB track and field records in his time as an athlete. He’s been running since seventh grade and may even look toward the Olympics post-graduation.

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UB distance runner Brian Crimmins overcomes injury to break school records

By JOHN JACOBS | Feb. 16, 2016

Crimmins, a senior pharmacology and toxicology major, has been running track for about a decade and he’s faced his share of adversity along the way.

Buffalo freshman Kyle Akins looks to take redshirt freshman Bryan Lantry off his feet for the takedown during sparring practice on Tuesday. The 125-pounder is currently ranked 33rd in the country.

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UB wrestler Kyle Akins rebounds from shoulder surgery, becomes nationally-ranked competitor

By Jordan Grossman | Feb. 16, 2016

Akins is a 125-pound freshman who fits the mold for everything Stutzman is trying to build. Akins had his first action as a Bull just a few months ago but he may be the wrestler to transition Buffalo into a new era as national contenders.

Freshman guard CJ Massinburg scored a career-high 36 points in Buffalo's 94-75 loss to Ohio on Feb. 12.

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Quick hits: Women’s tennis off to undefeated season, wrestling reaches 10-win season

By Sports Desk | Feb. 15, 2016

Wrapping up a week in UB Athletics. Women's tennis off to a hot start, men's basketball begins a losing streak, women's basketball grabs a much-needed win and much more.

Freshman economics major Denis Murtagh was the winner of $10,000 from a Super Bowl pool last week. His numbers, 3 & 7, hit for the halftime score of Super Bowl 50.

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UB students win big during Super Bowl 50

By Jordan Grossman | Feb. 14, 2016

A record $132.54 million was bet on Super Bowl 50, according to the Nevada Gaming Control, and it’s estimated that Americans bet an additional $4.1 billion in illegal bets. Murtagh and fellow UB Joey Silva*, who won $50,000 with his father, both won big on their Super Bowl squares.

Former Bulls forward Xavier Ford (far left) and linebacker Khalil Mack (center) take in a UB basketball game at Alumni Arena Friday night. Ford, Mack and former running back Branden Oliver have all gone on to professional careers and returned to campus this weekend.

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Former UB Bulls Khalil Mack, Branden Oliver and Xavier Ford return to campus to watch men’s basketball game

By Jordan Grossman | Feb. 14, 2016

Before the accolades, the fame and the money, Khalil Mack, Branden Oliver and Xavier Ford were three unknown athletes with large aspirations. Not many programs in the country gave them a shot to show off their talent to the nation. UB did.

John Stutzman coaches during his first season with the Bulls. Buffalo defeated Binghamton 24-12 at Alumni Arena Friday afternoon.

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UB wrestling dominates early, holds on late to defeat Binghamton

By Landin Murphy | Feb. 14, 2016

The Bulls (9-8, 1-2 Mid-American Conference) defeated in-state rival Binghamton (10-6, 6-3 EIWA) 24-12 at Alumni Arena on Friday afternoon.

Sophomore guard Stephanie Reid drives to the basket against a Ball State defender on Feb. 6.

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Huge second quarter propels UB women’s basketball over Bowling Green

By MICHAEL AKELSON | Feb. 14, 2016

The Bulls left the Stroh Center with a 63-50 win over Bowling Green (8-13, 4-8 MAC) on Saturday afternoon. Reid had a game-high 21 points and was 4 of 7 from behind the arc on a day where junior guard Joanna Smith struggled to find her shot.

Freshman guard CJ Massinburg throws down for a dunk during Buffalo's 94-75 loss to Ohio on Friday night. Massinburg scored a team-high 36 points in the loss.

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UB Bulls blown out at home by Ohio 94-75

By GABRIELA JULIA | Feb. 12, 2016

On Friday night, the Bulls (14-11, 7-5 Mid-American Conference) produced one of their worst shooting displays all season, losing their second consecutive conference game to Ohio (16-8, 7-5 MAC) at Alumni Arena.