The Buffalo News : Sports

Jim Boeheim has always made a point of telling the media not to get too caught up in runs because basketball, especially on the college level, is a game of runs.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Clearly these morning starts agree with the Niagara men's basketball team.

Shelvin Mack had 15 points, Gordon Hayward added 14 points and 10 rebounds, and No. 11 Butler showed off its depth with a 67-54 victory over Northwestern on Wednesday night.

University at Buffalo senior safety Mike Newton walked into Tuesday night's postgame news conference looking more relieved than triumphant.

OXFORD, Ohio — Based on the time of possession numbers, you figured Miami (Ohio) defeated the University at Buffalo by a wide margin.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The University at Buffalo men's basketball team rebounded from a season-opening defeat by discovering a shooting touch that was absent in a one-point loss to Vermont last Sunday.

CHICAGO — The Canisius men’s basketball team opened its season with an 89-69 loss Tuesday night to Loyola of Chicago in the Gentile Center — its sixth straight defeat in a season opener.

School: Canisius Nickname: Golden Griffins Affiliation: Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Coach: Terry Zeh (92-62) 2008-09 record: 24-9

CHICAGO — The Canisius men's basketball team opened its season with an 89-69 loss Tuesday night to Loyola of Chicago in the Gentile Center — its sixth straight defeat in a season opener.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Clearly these morning starts agree with the Niagara men's basketball team.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Anthony Nelson scored 18 points and Rob Garrison and Bilal Benn added 17 points apiece in Niagara's 82-77 victory over Howard at the Glenn Wilkes Classic on Friday.

OLEAN — In the offseason, Megan Van Tatenhove spent her workout time with teammate Dana Mitchell.

OLEAN — Few leashes are shorter than the one St. Bonaventure coach Mark Schmidt has on his point guards. Make an ill-advised pass, take a seat. Get beat defensively off the dribble, time to sub out.

Two months ago tonight's St. Bonaventure-Binghamton game had all the makings of an intriguing nonconference matchup. Today? Let's just say that Bona fans fully appreciate the dejection the Binghamton faithful is feeling.

OLEAN — In the offseason, Megan Van Tatenhove spent her workout time with teammate Dana Mitchell.

Senior quarterback Jake Graci (Lake Shore) tied his own Brockport State record with five touchdown passes as he led the Golden Eagles to a 48-30 romp over Buffalo State on Saturday at Coyer Field in the final game of the season for both teams.

Sometimes, that bye week comes at just the right time.

The University at Buffalo has been selected to finish third in the six-team East Division in the Mid-American Conference men's basketball preseason poll released Wednesday. UB senior guard Rodney Pierce (Hutch-Tech) was named to the All-MAC East preseason team.

1. Connecticut:

No. 2 Michigan St. 75, Gonzaga 71: Durrell Summers hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 3:02 left, made two at the line with 5.7 seconds to go and finished with 21 points to help No. 2 Michigan State rally. The Spartans (2-0) won their 41st straight game at home against a nonconference team, extending a streak that started after a lost to Duke on Dec. 3, 2003.

Niagara’s first-ever trip to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament men’s soccer final ended in heart-breaking fashion, as the Purple Eagles fell, 1-0, to Loyola on Sunday in Fairfield, Conn.