Central Michigan University Athletics
Tuesday, January 28
Buffalo, N.Y./Alumni Arena
7:00 PM
Central Michigan University
9-11,3-5MAC
69
at
75
Buffalo
7-13,2-6MAC
1
2
F
Central Mich.
34
35
69
Buffalo
30
45
75
Team Stats
CMU
UB
FG%
.491
.452
3FG%
.263
.333
FT%
.435
.588
RB
36
38
TO
19
17
STL
9
11
Game Leaders
Pts
16
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG/F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
Photo by: Madison Davidson '25 - @_mld.jpeg
Chippewas Drop 75-69 Loss at Buffalo
1/28/2025 10:22:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Buffalo outscores Central Michigan 11-2 over the game’s final 2:35; Chippewas hit season-low 43 percent of free throws (10-23), turn the ball over 19 times; Anthony Pritchard leads CMU with 16 points.
AMHERST, N.Y.—Buffalo outscored Central Michigan 45-35 in the second half and overcame a late deficit by closing the game out with an 11-2 run as the host Bulls registered a come-from-behind 75-69 win over the Chippewas Tuesday evening at Alumni Arena.
The loss drops Central Michigan to 3-5 in the MAC and 9-11 overall, while Buffalo improves to 2-6 in the MAC and 7-13 overall. Central Michigan lost its seventh consecutive game at Buffalo and has now won just one of its last 16 meetings in the series against the Bulls.
With Central Michigan clinging to a 67-64 lead with 2:35 to play, Buffalo responded by tying the game on a 3-pointer by Ryan Sabol. Sabol was fouled on the 3-pointer and after he missed the ensuing free throw, Buffalo's Anquan Boldin, Jr. grabbed the rebound and scored a layup for a 69-67 lead. After a Central Michigan turnover, Tyson Dunn finished a layup with 50 seconds to play for a 71-67 lead. After CMU's Anthony Pritchard scored on a layup, Boldin responded with a layup with 15 seconds to go and gave the Bulls a commanding 73-69 lead. Buffalo closed out the game with two Bryson Wilson free throws following another CMU turnover.
In the game's last 2:35, Central Michigan turned the ball over three times and went 0-3 from the free throw line.
For the game, the Chippewas made just 43 percent of their free throws (10-23) and made just 8-19 in the second half. In addition, Central Michigan turned the ball over 19 times, its second highest turnover total on the year.
"We've got to make free throws," Central Michigan head coach Tony Barbee said. "We miss four straight free throws, a 90 percent shooter misses four straight. You make those free throws, the game is over. We miss the free throws, then we give up two offensive rebounds."
Buffalo's Ryan Sabol finished with a game-high 24 points as he hit 6-12 3-pointers and 8-15 overall field goals. Ben Michaels and Tyson Dunn both added 12 points for the Bulls.
Central Michigan was led by Pritchard, who finished with 16 points (7-18 FG), six rebounds, and five assists. Jakobi Heady registered his second double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Vasko scored 11 points, all in the first half.
Central Michigan squandered a 13-point first half lead as Buffalo trimmed the Chippewas' lead down to 34-30 at halftime. Buffalo outscored the Chippewas 12-3 over the final 4:53 of the half and hit two 3-pointers in the last 46 seconds, including one at the buzzer to cut the lead down to four points.
Vasko, who scored 11 points in the first half, got Central Michigan started as he hit three 3-pointers in the game's first six minutes. The Chippewas took an early 16-10 lead. Later, Quentin Heady and Damarion Bonds hit back-to-back layups for a 22-15 lead at the 9:41 mark.
The Chippewas extended their lead to 13 points (31-18) on a 9-0 run. The Chippewas held Buffalo scoreless for five minutes. On the other end, Jakobi Heady hit a jumper, Anthony Pritchard 3-pointer at the 8:02 mark and Ndjonga scored on a beautiful driving layup for a 29-18 lead. Vasko then hit a jumper in the lane for the 13-point lead.
Buffalo battled back to tie the game at 43-43 with 14:32 to play on a 3-pointer from the corner from Omar Migues-Hibeljic. From that point on, it was a back-and-forth dogfight.
The Chippewas pushed the lead back up to 55-49 on a 3-pointer by Kyler VanderJagt with 9:50 to play.
But Buffalo would not go away. Sabol converted a layup off a CMU turnover, then took advantage of a technical foul to edge closer. Buffalo finally went up went up 60-59 with 7:06 to play on a Ben Michaels dunk.
Central Michigan answered with a 6-0 run as Pritchard hit a bucket for 61-60 lead, then Ndjonga converted two free throws, and Pritchard hit a layup for 65-60 lead with 4:57 to go in the game. A Jakobi Heady jumper gave CMU a 67-64 advantage with 2:35 to play.
From there, Buffalo outscored CMU 11-2.
Once again, Central Michigan played without Ugnius Jarusevicius and the Chippewas fall to 1-4 without the 6-foot-10-inch Lithuanian. The Chippewas started Bryan Ndjonga, Quentin Heady, Jakobi Heady, Cayden Vasko, and Anthony Pritchard.
CMU men's basketball season tickets and single game tickets are on sale. Fans can order season tickets by calling Ticket Central at (989) 774-3045, by ordering on this link, or by stopping by Ticket Central located in the John G. Kulhavi Events Center between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Single-game tickets are also on sale. For more information, click here.
The loss drops Central Michigan to 3-5 in the MAC and 9-11 overall, while Buffalo improves to 2-6 in the MAC and 7-13 overall. Central Michigan lost its seventh consecutive game at Buffalo and has now won just one of its last 16 meetings in the series against the Bulls.
With Central Michigan clinging to a 67-64 lead with 2:35 to play, Buffalo responded by tying the game on a 3-pointer by Ryan Sabol. Sabol was fouled on the 3-pointer and after he missed the ensuing free throw, Buffalo's Anquan Boldin, Jr. grabbed the rebound and scored a layup for a 69-67 lead. After a Central Michigan turnover, Tyson Dunn finished a layup with 50 seconds to play for a 71-67 lead. After CMU's Anthony Pritchard scored on a layup, Boldin responded with a layup with 15 seconds to go and gave the Bulls a commanding 73-69 lead. Buffalo closed out the game with two Bryson Wilson free throws following another CMU turnover.
In the game's last 2:35, Central Michigan turned the ball over three times and went 0-3 from the free throw line.
For the game, the Chippewas made just 43 percent of their free throws (10-23) and made just 8-19 in the second half. In addition, Central Michigan turned the ball over 19 times, its second highest turnover total on the year.
"We've got to make free throws," Central Michigan head coach Tony Barbee said. "We miss four straight free throws, a 90 percent shooter misses four straight. You make those free throws, the game is over. We miss the free throws, then we give up two offensive rebounds."
Buffalo's Ryan Sabol finished with a game-high 24 points as he hit 6-12 3-pointers and 8-15 overall field goals. Ben Michaels and Tyson Dunn both added 12 points for the Bulls.
Central Michigan was led by Pritchard, who finished with 16 points (7-18 FG), six rebounds, and five assists. Jakobi Heady registered his second double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Vasko scored 11 points, all in the first half.
Central Michigan squandered a 13-point first half lead as Buffalo trimmed the Chippewas' lead down to 34-30 at halftime. Buffalo outscored the Chippewas 12-3 over the final 4:53 of the half and hit two 3-pointers in the last 46 seconds, including one at the buzzer to cut the lead down to four points.
Vasko, who scored 11 points in the first half, got Central Michigan started as he hit three 3-pointers in the game's first six minutes. The Chippewas took an early 16-10 lead. Later, Quentin Heady and Damarion Bonds hit back-to-back layups for a 22-15 lead at the 9:41 mark.
The Chippewas extended their lead to 13 points (31-18) on a 9-0 run. The Chippewas held Buffalo scoreless for five minutes. On the other end, Jakobi Heady hit a jumper, Anthony Pritchard 3-pointer at the 8:02 mark and Ndjonga scored on a beautiful driving layup for a 29-18 lead. Vasko then hit a jumper in the lane for the 13-point lead.
Buffalo battled back to tie the game at 43-43 with 14:32 to play on a 3-pointer from the corner from Omar Migues-Hibeljic. From that point on, it was a back-and-forth dogfight.
The Chippewas pushed the lead back up to 55-49 on a 3-pointer by Kyler VanderJagt with 9:50 to play.
But Buffalo would not go away. Sabol converted a layup off a CMU turnover, then took advantage of a technical foul to edge closer. Buffalo finally went up went up 60-59 with 7:06 to play on a Ben Michaels dunk.
Central Michigan answered with a 6-0 run as Pritchard hit a bucket for 61-60 lead, then Ndjonga converted two free throws, and Pritchard hit a layup for 65-60 lead with 4:57 to go in the game. A Jakobi Heady jumper gave CMU a 67-64 advantage with 2:35 to play.
From there, Buffalo outscored CMU 11-2.
Once again, Central Michigan played without Ugnius Jarusevicius and the Chippewas fall to 1-4 without the 6-foot-10-inch Lithuanian. The Chippewas started Bryan Ndjonga, Quentin Heady, Jakobi Heady, Cayden Vasko, and Anthony Pritchard.
CMU men's basketball season tickets and single game tickets are on sale. Fans can order season tickets by calling Ticket Central at (989) 774-3045, by ordering on this link, or by stopping by Ticket Central located in the John G. Kulhavi Events Center between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Single-game tickets are also on sale. For more information, click here.
—CMU—
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