Sports - The Spectrum

Junior guard Joanna Smith drives to the basket against Ball State on Feb. 6.

SPORTS

Legette-Jack blames officiating in UB women’s basketball’s 62-49 loss

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Mar. 3, 2016

The Bulls (15-13, 7-10 MAC) fell to Akron (16-12, 10-7 MAC) 62-49 at the James A. Rhodes Arena – which snapped a three-game winning streak. The Bulls faltered in the second half, scoring just seven points in the fourth quarter. Buffalo is still third in the MAC East and is tied for seventh place with Western Michigan (15-14, 7-10 MAC) in the overall conference standings.

Solomon Jackson and his teammates work to block a kick during a Bulls' game against Northern Illinois in November 2015.

SPORTS

Memorial service to be held for deceased UB football player Solomon Jackson

By Tom Dinki | Mar. 3, 2016

There will be a memorial service for deceased UB football player Solomon Jackson at The Well Buffalo Church Thursday night.

Senior guard Jarryn Skeete looks to get around a Miami Ohio defender in Buffalo's 67-59 loss to the RedHawks in Alumni Arena on March 1.

SPORTS

With MAC Tournament seeding on the line, UB Bulls fall to Miami Ohio with poor shooting performance

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Mar. 2, 2016

Head coach Nate Oats couldn’t hide his frustration after the Bulls (16-14, 9-8 MAC) lost their second consecutive game – a 67-59 loss to Miami Ohio (12-18, 6-11 MAC) on Senior Night in Alumni Arena. Buffalo now holds the No. 6 seed in the MAC with four teams ahead of them tied with the same conference record (10-7).

Members of the Dazzlers, UB cheerleaders and True Blue hold signs with the No. 41 during a moment of silence on Tuesday night to honor former UB football player Solomon Jackson. Jackson died on Monday night following a medical emergency suffered at practice on Feb. 22.

SPORTS

Friends, former teammates and coaches remember ‘ultimate teammate’ Solomon Jackson

By Jordan Grossman | Mar. 1, 2016

Some of Jackson’s peers, former teammates and high school administrators who spoke to The Spectrum are choosing to remember Jackson as more than just Buffalo’s sophomore defensive end, but a hard working and caring person with an infectious smile.

Solomon Jackson walks off the field during Buffalo's game against Penn State at Beaver Stadium in September of 2015.

SPORTS

Twitter reactions: UB community mourns death of Solomon Jackson

By Jordan Grossman | Mar. 1, 2016

Although Buffalo football team players and coaches are not available for comment, members of the university community have taken to Twitter to mourn for Jackson.

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.

SPORTS

UB football player Solomon Jackson dies

By Jordan Grossman | Mar. 1, 2016

UB football player Solomon Jackson died Monday night, one week after suffering a medical emergency during a team conditioning session, the university announced Tuesday morning.

Allen Greene listens during his introductory press conference as athletic director in November of 2015.

OPINION

Statement from UB Athletic Director Allen Greene on the death of Solomon Jackson

Mar. 1, 2016

It is with deep sadness that I write to share that we have lost one of our own, UB football player Solomon Jackson, who passed away last night. Our heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies go out to Solomon’s family as together we mourn his tragic and untimely death.

Members of the 2015-16 women’s soccer team celebrate on the pitch at UB Stadium. Over spring break, the Bulls will embark on a seven-day, three-city tour through Spain.

SPORTS

UB women’s soccer to take trip to Spain

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Feb. 28, 2016

Following last year’s men’s soccer trip to England, the women’s squad now has its opportunity to travel overseas. The Bulls will travel to three cities – Barcelona, Valencia and Madrid – during their seven-day trip to Spain during UB’s upcoming spring break.

A women’s swimmer is competing in the butterfly heat during a match in October of 2015. The women’s swimming and diving team competed in the MAC Championships over the weekend.

SPORTS

UB Bulls quick hits: Track and Field breaks records at Indoor MAC Championships

By Sports Desk | Feb. 28, 2016

The weekly recap of what's happened in UB Athletics.

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

SPORTS

UB Bulls fall to Ohio 103-96 in overtime

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Feb. 28, 2016

The Bulls (16-13, 9-7 Mid-American Conference) fell to Ohio (19-9, 10-6 MAC) 103-96 in overtime on Saturday afternoon in Athens, Ohio. The Bobcats have now swept the season series against the Bulls and the loss pushes Buffalo down to third place in the MAC East with two games remaining in the regular season.

Bulls head coach Felisha Legette-Jack and the bench celebrate during Buffalo's victory over Ball State in Alumni Arena on Feb. 6.

SPORTS

UB women’s basketball upsets top-seeded Ohio for second time

By Edward Goldschmid | Feb. 27, 2016

For the second time this season, the Bulls (15-12, 7-9 MAC) defeated Ohio (22-5, 14-2 MAC), this time besting the Bobcats 70-58 in Athens, Ohio on Saturday afternoon.

SPORTS

UB women’s basketball preview: Bulls look to upset MAC-leading Ohio for second time

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Feb. 27, 2016

The Bulls (14-12, 6-9 MAC) take on Ohio at the Convocation Center in Athens, Ohio Saturday hoping for a repeat of their 51-43 upset of the Bobcats on Feb. 3. After the Bulls play Ohio, it won’t get an easier. They face the second-best team in the MAC East, Akron (14-12, 8-7 MAC) on Wednesday. The Zips defeated Buffalo 69-61 in Alumni Arena on Jan. 16.

UB football players, coaches and athletic administrators were present during a private ceremony for UB defensive end Solomon Jackson. Jackson was admitted to Buffalo General Medical Center on Monday after a "medical emergency" at practice.

SPORTS

Private service held for hospitalized UB football player Solomon Jackson

By Jordan Grossman | Feb. 25, 2016

UB Athletics administrators, football players and coaches were present at a private service Thursday for sophomore defensive end Solomon Jackson, who’s been hospitalized since a medical emergency during a conditioning practice on Monday.

Sophomore guard Stephanie Reid looks to go to the basket in a 55-52 victory over Bowling Green on Feb. 24.

SPORTS

Last-second block helps UB women’s basketball survive against Bowling Green

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Feb. 25, 2016

The Bulls (14-12, 6-9 Mid-American Conference) defeated Bowling Green (9-15, 5-10 MAC) 55-52 on a last-second block by Oursler, a native of Grans Island. The Bulls held a special promotion Wednesday – anyone from Grand Island could purchase a ticket for $5.

Oursler looks to get a pass in the paint.

SPORTS

After sitting out year, Cassie Oursler brings UB Bulls much needed post presence

By QUENTIN HAYNES | Feb. 24, 2016

She watched on the sideline as the Bulls lost to eventual conference champions, Ohio, in the Mid-American Conference Quarterfinals in Cleveland last season. She watched at home when West Virginia defeated Buffalo in the program’s first-ever Women’s National Invitation Tournament appearance. She even had to sit out for the first 10 games of this season. And if she could have played in any of those games, there may have been a different outcome. “I think she continues to get better,” said head coach Felisha Legette-Jack. “She has a major presence about herself, she just has to slow her down in her head. Once we get her to slow it down in her head, you’re going to see a 20-10 kid.”

SPORTS

UB Bulls sweep Kent State behind dominating performance from freshman trio

By Jordan Grossman | Feb. 23, 2016

The Bulls (16-12, 9-6 Mid-American Conference) exploded for 51 points in the second half to knock off conference-rival Kent State (18-10, 9-6 MAC) 87-70 Tuesday night at Alumni Arena.

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.

SPORTS

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.

SPORTS

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.

SPORTS

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. .

SPORTS

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.