Buffalo, NY – Three starters scored at least 10 points led by Lateef Johnson Jr. with 20, but Buffalo State came away with a 79-74 win in a tight game for 40 minutes Saturday.

THE BASICS

• Result: Buffalo State 79, SUNY Canton 74
• Location: Sports Arena – Buffalo, NY
• Records: SUNY Canton (3-14, 2-8 SUNYAC) | Buffalo State (6-10, 2-7 SUNYAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Buffalo State did nearly everything right offensively to begin with and a 7-for-9 start from the field gave the Bengals an early 17-11 advantage five minutes in.
• The Roos started getting buckets to drop, and with 9:45 left in the half, Lateef Johnson Jr. put in a layup and SUNY Canton had their first lead of the game at 24-23.
• The game remained tight for a bit with the offense a little bit slower in the latter 10 minutes of the first half. However, the Bengals got themselves to the line and went on a 7-0 run purely off of free throws.
• The halftime score was 42-37 in favor of the home team with Jahdeuir Reese scoring 12 points.
• The Roos tied it up at 44 in the early part of the second half thanks to a free throw by Eugene Johnson Jr. It was later tied at 53, but then Buffalo State scored 11 points on their next four possessions to take a 64-55 lead with nine minutes left.
• SUNY Canton trailed 72-65 with just under five minutes left, but Reese and Lateef Johnson Jr. led a 7-0 run to knot the contest up at 72 with 2:24 left to play.
• The game headed into the final minute with the Roos trailing 76-74. SUNY Canton had some good looks both from three and around the rim in the last 60 seconds but could not get a shot to drop. Buffalo State did what they had to do at the free throw line and took the 79-74 victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Lateef Johnson Jr. paced the Roos with 20 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks while Reese scored 18.
• Edram Gbekou scored 10 points and dished out two assists while Jordan Sidle concluded a solid road trip with eight points and three rebounds in his 12 minutes of action.
• Remi Skvorc scored 18 points to lead the way for the home team. Ball movement was on full display for the Bengals with 21 assists on 25 field goals.
• Shooting percentage both overall and from the three was around even for the two teams but rebounds were won slightly by Buffalo State (35-29) and the Roos committed 21 fouls which led to 24 free throw attempts while SUNY Canton only shot 20.

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Roos will head back home for their second game of the season against the Oneonta Red Dragons on Tuesday, January 27, at 3:30 p.m.  
   

Discover SUNY Canton, where innovation meets opportunity. The college's career-focused educational programs emphasize hands-on and applied learning opportunities in digital design, engineering technology, health, information technology, management, public service, and veterinary technology. Faculty members bring real-world experience and exceptional academic expertise to the classroom. As a leader in online education, SUNY Canton offers unmatched flexibility with hundreds of courses and 23 comprehensive degree programs offered completely online. The SUNY Canton Kangaroos compete at the NCAA Division III level and are members of the SUNYAC. In addition to its 15 traditional teams, SUNY Canton offers coed varsity esports and cheerleading.