BUFFALO, NY—Shareese Hamer (Erie, PA/Strong Vincent) had 18 points and 11 rebounds and Buffalo State (2-3/1-0) defeated visiting SUNYIT (2-2/0-1), 62-52, in the SUNYAC season-opener tonight at the Sports Arena.

Barb Kiliszek (Depew/Lancaster) added a career-high 12 points and six steals. Alyssa Kinney (Medford/Bellport) chipped in nine points, 10 points and five assists for the Bengals.

Buffalo State raced out to an early 11-2 lead and led by as many as 14 in the first half, before SUNYIT mounted a 10-0 run to cut the Bengals lead to 26-20 at the intermission. The Wildcats pulled to within four early in the second period, but the Bengals extended their lead to back to double-digits just minutes later and held on for the win.

Buffalo State shot 40-percent from the field for the game and just 29-percent (5 of 17) from the free throw line. SUNYIT was 32-percent from the floor, 55-percent from three-point land, and 43-percent from the charity stripe.

Buffalo State will play a non-conference game on Monday at Pitt-Bradford at 6 p.m.