In a game that featured 15 lead changes, the Fredonia men's basketball team picked up its first SUNYAC win of the season with an 81-72 victory over Buffalo State on Saturday. Ian Helps (Bronx/Greater New York Academy) had 28 points and 10 rebounds and all five Fredonia starters scored in double digits.
The win completed a sweep for both the men's and women's teams on Saturday, earning the Blue Devils four points for the "Battle by the Lake" trophy, and giving them an 11-3 lead on the season.
Dante' Williams (Buffalo/Hutch Tech) netted 16 points, and Isaiah Ice (Bronx, N.Y. / Iona Prep) scored 11 and had five assists. Justin Tapper (White Plains/White Plains) had 10 points and 14 boards, and Kay Jackson (Ridgewood/Grover Cleveland) added 10 points. The Blue Devils dominated the glass, out-rebounding Buffalo State, 49-33.
Buffalo State held a one-point lead at the break, 47-46. They never led by more than six points, and 11 of the lead changes occurred in the first half. Helps had 16 points while Williams had 10. Tapper had 11 first-period boards.
With the score knotted at 52-52 early in the second half, the Blue Devils used an 8-0 run to take a lead they would never relinquish. Buffalo State cut the deficit to one on a pair of occasions, but Fredonia had an answer each time and eventually pulled away late.
Fredonia outscored the Bengals 21-10 at the free-throw line. Buffalo State (2-10 SUNYAC, 6-12 overall) was led by Mike Henry with 20 points and Malik Henry with 17.
The Blue Devils (1-11, 3-15) return home on Tuesday to take on Brockport in Dods Hall.
