OSWEGO — Brian Sortino hit a 3-pointer with 12 seconds remaining to put Oswego ahead for the sixth and final time of the game as the host Lakers slipped past Buffalo State, 71-70, this afternoon in a SUNYAC contest.
Lovell Smith (Buffalo/McKinley) shot 14 of 19 from the field and led Buffalo State with 31 points and eight rebounds in the losing effort. Nico McLean (Buffalo/Amherst) was the only other Bengal in double figures with 11 points. Each team led on six different occasions in the back-and-forth affair. Oswego took its largest lead of the game by 10 with 2:37 remaining in the first half, but Buffalo State closed the frame on with a 10-0 run to make the score 35-35 at the intermission.
The teams traded the lead several times in the second half with neither team pulling ahead by more than five. Mike Henry (Syracuse/West Genesee) hit a layup with 16 seconds remaining to give the Bengals a two-point lead, but Sortino hit the 3 at the other end. Henry was then fouled with just one second remaining, but missed both free throws and the Bengals fell just short.
Smith and McLean are closing in on becoming the 22nd and 23rd players in Buffalo State history to score 1,000 career points. Smith is just 47 points shy of the milestone, and McLean needs 55.
Buffalo State will next compete in the Miami Shootout in Florida on Dec. 18 and 19. The Bengals will open against Eastern Connecticut and then will play Alvernia the following day.
from BuffaloStateAthletics.com via IFTTT
