Happy Super Bowl Sunday, everyone. It was a very busy Saturday for sports at all levels in Buffalo yesterday. A quick review:
Hockey:
The Buffalo Sabres lost for the third time in four nights and fourth straight game overall, getting shut out by the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0.
Lacrosse:
The Buffalo Bandits are in huge trouble, falling to 1-5 after a 14-10 home loss to the Toronto Rock. The Bandits are at least two games out of a playoff spot with 10 games remaining.
College Sports:
In men’s hoops action, The University at Buffalo men’s basketball team captured its first ever victory over Toledo, 65-59 on Saturday evening. Rodney Pierce led the Bulls with 16 points and four assists. Calvin Betts and Max Boudreau added 11 points each while Watt scored 10 points.
Senior Antonio Samedi netted a career-high 27 points and had 12 rebounds, but Buffalo State (8-11/6-7) surrendered a 10-point second-half lead and Plattsburgh hit a last second layup to win 88-86 in a SUNYAC game Saturday night.
Ahead by six, 53-47, with 4:48 left to play, the St. Bonaventure women’s basketball team could not hold the lead and loss to conference rival Saint Joseph 57-53. Megan Van Tatenhove led the Bonnies with 19 points.
The Niagara women’s basketball team defeated the Rider Broncs, 68-56, to win its fourth-straight game. Four Purple Eagles scored in double-figures in the win that extended their longest win streak since Nov. 2006.
The University at Buffalo women¹s basketball team was able to shut down the MAC¹s third best offense as the Bulls led wire-to-wire on Saturday afternoon, defeating Central Michigan, 60-52, at Alumni Arena. Kourtney Brown led the Bulls with 19 points and 14 rebounds, her 13th double-double of the season.
Kaitlin Grant’s layup with 4.8 seconds proved to be the game-winning basket as the Canisius College women’s basketball team fell 72-71 in overtime to Loyola in the Koessler Athletic Center on Saturday. The Golden Griffins fall to 9-13 overall and 4-7 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
Buffalo State (10-10/5-8) outscored host Plattsburgh16-6 over the final five minutes to claim a 72-67 victory in a SUNYAC game Saturday. Staci McElroy paced Buffalo State with 20 points and 12 rebounds.
In college tennis, The University at Buffalo women¹s tennis team picked up a hard fought 5-2 win over Cornell on Saturday afternoon as the Bulls took the doubles point and then won four of the six singles matches. The win improves UB to 2-0 on the season.
Ice hockey action saw Senior Jason Weeks set the program’s Division I record for most career goals as the Canisius College hockey team completed a two-game sweep over Connecticut with a 5-2 win on Saturday night. The Griffs are now 13-11-4 on the season and 11-8-3 in Atlantic Hockey, moving just one point behind Mercyhurst for home ice advantage in the Atlantic Hockey Tournament.
On the women’s side of the ice, In a battle for second place in the CHA, the Niagara women’s hockey team (10-12-4, 5-5-2 CHA) couldn’t hold onto an early one-goal lead, dropping a 2-1 decision to the visiting Syracuse Orange (16-13-1, 7-5-0 CHA) on Senior Day at Dwyer Arena
Lastly, The Canisius College synchronized swimming team swept the Canisius Invitational at the Koessler Athletic Center Pool on Saturday. The Golden Griffins earned 91 points. Wheaton finished second (68 points), Lindenwood was third (66 points) and Keuka took fourth (38 points).
High School Hoops:
Canisius bounced back from a loss to Bishop Timon Thursday night with an easy 69-51 victory over St. Francis. Blair Helton led the Crusaders with 20 points while James Gaines added 12.
