Bengal Beat - Volume 11, Issue 20

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Recapping events from Monday, January 27 - Sunday, February 2, 2003

MEN'S BASKETBALL (13-4, 8-1) Buffalo State Extends Winning Streak to Six

Buffalo State used a pair of strong second halves to improve its SUNYAC record to 8-1 with wins over Geneseo and Plattsburgh.

On Tuesday, the Bengals hosted Geneseo, and fell behind 37-27 at halftime, and trailed by as many as 13 points in the second half, before rallying for a 73-69 victory. Perry Davis (Buffalo/Seneca) and Josh Becker (Hamburg/Frontier) spearheaded the charge as they combined for 29 of the Bengals 46 second-half points. Davis finished the game with 23 points, eight rebounds and five steals and shot 4-of-7 from three-point range. Becker scored 21 points and added six assists. Justin Konst (Williamsville/Williamsville East) added 13 points for the Bengals. Buffalo State shot 11-for-22 from three-point range.

The Bengals traveled to Plattsburgh on Friday, and again trailed at the intermission, 31-30, before cruising to a 71-62 victory. Becker exploded in the second half, however, scoring 26 of his career-high 31 points. He added 11 rebounds in the contest. Justin Konst scored 15 points, and brother Jeremy Konst (Williamsville/Williamsville East) chipped in 12 points and six assists. Davis tallied eight points and a game-high 17 rebounds. Buffalo State shot 80 percent from the free throw line.

Buffalo State is currently on a six-game winning streak, and has a 13-4 overall record, and is tied for first in the SUNYAC at 8-1.

Who?s Next?

Buffalo State will travel to Fredonia on Tuesday night for its only game of the week.

TRACK & FIELD - Two Records Fall at Bucknell Bison Open

Buffalo State competed in is second meet of the season on Friday and Saturday at the Bucknell Bison Open. The meet was a non-scored event featuring 23 schools including representatives from all three divisions.

Top performances on the women's side came from Linda Williams (Rochester/Edison Tech) and Celestine Coney (Lyons/Lyons). Williams broke her own record that she set a week ago, in the 55m dash with a time of 7.54, placing sixth in the meet. Coney also established a new Buffalo State record in the long jump, leaping 5.19m as part of the pentathlon. She also finished first in her section of the 400m with a time of 1:00.82, just 0.28 seconds shy of another school record.

On the men's side, Eugene Overton (Syracuse/Corcoran) placed seventh in the 55m dash with a 6.65 clocking. Matt Kubiak (Lakeview/Frontier) finished fifth in his section of the mile with a time of 4:31.61. Justin Muise (Kenmore/Kenmore West) was victorious in his section of the 400m run in 50.58, and also won his section in the 200m dash with a time of 23.80.

Who's Next?

Buffalo State will return to action on Sunday, February 9 at the Syracuse Invitational.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL (11-7, 6-3) Buffalo State Snaps Two-Game Skid

Buffalo State dropped a pair of SUNYAC contests, before defeating Penn State Behrend on Sunday.

Geneseo visited the Sports Arena on Tuesday night, and handed the Bengals a 71-51 defeat. Abby Kochan (Newport/West Canada) notched 15 points for Buffalo State. Monique Hanks (Liverpool/Liverpool) recorded her third double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Dionne Turnage (Buffalo/Traditional) scored 13 points.

On Friday, the Bengals traveled to Plattsburgh, and scored just 16 first-half points as they fell 56-43. Kochan led the Bengals again with 16 points and eight rebounds, and Leah Colucci (Hamburg/Hamburg) chipped in a career-high 10 points. Buffalo State shot just 27 percent from the field and 58 percent from the free throw line. Plattsburgh outrebounded the Bengals 52-33.

Buffalo State returned to the win column on Sunday at Penn State Behrend with a 57-43 victory. The Bengals defense stifled the Lions all day, holding the home team to just 18 first half points, and allowed just 12 field goals all game. Hanks and Desiree Gibson (Rochester/Edison Tech) matched career-highs with 20 and 19 points respectively, and Turnage added 12. Tiffany Ciolek (Great Valley/Salamanca) added a game-high 10 rebounds.

Buffalo State is now 11-7 overall and is in the middle of the playoff hunt with a 6-3 record in the SUNYAC.

Who?s Next?

Buffalo State will travel to Fredonia on Tuesday night for its only game of the week.

MEN'S HOCKEY (5-14-1/2-7) - Bengals Drop a Pair of SUNYAC Games

Buffalo State traveled to Cortland and Oswego this weekend, dropping both games by scores of 8-4 and 9-3 respectively.

In Cortland, despite having 36 shots on goal, Buffalo State trailed all game. Ricardo Hernandez (Eagle River, AK/Ventura Mariners) scored the Bengals first goal at the nine-minute mark of the second period. Rocky Reeves (Anchorage, AK/Ventura Mariners) and Mike Zalewski (Grand Rapids, MI/Bancroft Hawks) were credited with the assists. Joe Urbanik (Calumet City, IL/Waterloo) netted his 14th goal of the season at the 17:24 mark of the second period. The unassisted power play goal made the score 5-2. Just 29 seconds into the third period, Mark Infantino (Buffalo/St. Catherines) scored on a pass from Henry Jurek (E. Amherst/Niagara Senics) to pull the Bengals within two. Cortland then held the Bengals scoreless until the 18:22 mark when Reeves scored Buffalo State's second power play goal of the game on assists from Urbanik and Infantino.

Saturday, Buffalo State traveled to Oswego and was again defeated by the Lakers, who are ranked fifth in the nation. Jurek got the Bengals on the board first, scoring at the 13:28 mark from Hernandez, but the Lakers would take a 2-1 lead into the locker room at the end of the first period. At the 5:47 mark of the second period Morgan McElman (Bayside, NB/Elmira Jr. Jackals) tied the game at two, on assists from Hernandez and Dave Cadarette (Boyne City, MI/Toledo Jr. Storm). Just two minutes later, Sean Mask (London, ONT/Petrolia Jets) put the bengals in the lead3-2 with assists going to Jurek and Brian Janke (Anchorage, AK.Buffalo Lightning). That was all the Bengals could do as the third period belonged to Oswego. The Lakers out-shot the Bengals 19 to five in the third, and scored six goals. Goaltender Steve Thering (Fairport/Morrisville) made 47 saves in the loss.

Buffalo State is now 5-14-1 overall, and 2-7 in SUNYAC play.

Who's next?

Buffalo State will be at home this weekend hosting SUNYAC rival Brockport on Friday night, and Geneseo on Saturday. Both games start at 7 p.m.

WOMEN'S HOCKEY (4-13-1/2-5-1) - Bengals Fall to Top-Ranked Elmira

Buffalo State hosted the defending national champion and current top-ranked Elmira Soaring Eagles this weekend at the Ice Arena, and was defeated in both contests.

On Saturday afternoon Buffalo State held Elmira Scoreless in the first period, and was only trailing the Soaring Eagles 1-0 after two periods. Elmira scored four goals in the third period, however, with two coming on the power play to defeat the Bengals, 5-0. Mary Keddie (Willamsville/Buffalo Bisons) made 50 saves for the Bengals in the loss.

Elmira showed its superiority on Sunday, as it dominated the game, defeating the Bengals, 11-0. Keddie made 48 saves for Buffalo State, and Robyn Landrigan (Lockport/Niagara County Coyotes) had eight saves in the third period.

Buffalo State is now 4-13-1 overall and 2-5-1 in ECAC West play.

Who's next?

Buffalo State will travel to Neumann College for a pair of ECAC West contests on Saturday and Sunday. Start times are scheduled for 4 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. respectively.

SWIMMING & DIVING - Buffalo State Swims Two Meets This Week

The Bengals competed in two meets this week, traveling to Gannon Univertisy on Wednesday, and hosting Brockport and Oneonta on Saturday.

On the men's side Wednesday, Rich Gaczewski (N. Tonawanda/N. Tonawanda) finished first in the 1000-yard free with a time of 10:58, and Mark Manka (W. Seneca/W. Seneca West) took first in the 100-free finishing in 53.87. The men were defeated 82-72.

On the women's side, nobody was able to capture a first place finish in the 106-94 defeat.

Saturday, on the men's side Gaczewski was a double winner taking first in the 1000-free with a time of 11:14, and also in the 500-yard free finishing in 5:21. Matt Helming (Amherst/Sweet Home) took first in the 100-yard back with a time of 1:00.57. Divers Tom Shilke (Tonawanda/Sweet Home) and Brett Stodolka (Darien/Alexander) took home first place in the 3-meter and 1-meter dives respectively with scores of 206.45 and 216.95. The men were defeated by both Brockport and Oneonta by scores of 68-45 and 62-51, dropping their record to 1-8 overall.

On the women's side, Marie Ryer (Buffalo/Hutch Tech) captured first in the 50-yard free with a time of 27.24, and Ashley Myers (E. Berlin, PA/Bermudian Springs) took first in the 100-yard back finishing in 1:06. Divers Susanna Lehman (Alexander/Alexander) and Sarah Krawczyk (Cheektowaga/W. Seneca East) each placed first in the 1-meter and 3-meter respectively, with final scores of 170.60 and 200.45. In the meet, Buffalo State defeated Brockport, 72-39, and were defeated by Oneonta, 65-47. The Bengals are now 3-7.

Who's next?

Buffalo State will compete in the SUNYAC Championships February 12-15th at the Flickinger pool at E.C.C.

Media Contact:
Jeffrey Ventura, Sports Information Director | 7168786030 | venturjm@buffalostate.edu