Massachusetts Stuns Buffalo in Thrilling 68-67 Upset

The University at Buffalo, heavily favored to win, fell victim to a stunning upset at the hands of the Massachusetts Minutemen, who escaped Alumni Arena with a nail-biting 68-67 victory. This monumental upset will send shockwaves through the college basketball world, as Buffalo, with a net ranking of 165, was expected to handle the Minutemen with ease. However, Massachusetts, fueled by a strong first-half performance, had other plans.

The Minutemen dominated the first half, taking a 38-29 lead into the break. Marcus Banks Jr. led the charge, scoring 19 points on the night, including several crucial baskets that helped his team maintain their advantage. Buffalo's Ryan Sabol tried to will his team back into the game, pouring in 27 points and dishing out 5 assists, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Minutemen's balanced attack. Leonardo Bettiol and Daniel Hankins-Sanford also made significant contributions for Massachusetts, with 16 points and 7 rebounds, and 15 points and 10 rebounds, respectively.

CHD Scout's pre-game prediction had Buffalo winning by 3.7 points, but the Bulls' inability to contain the Minutemen's offense was their downfall. The predicted score of 70-66 in favor of Buffalo was far from the actual outcome, as Massachusetts's stifling defense held the Bulls to just 67 points. Buffalo's Daniel Freitag and Noah Batchelor also had notable performances, with 18 points and 7 assists, and 16 points, respectively, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Minutemen's strong team effort.

As the second half got underway, Buffalo began to mount a comeback, outscoring Massachusetts 38-30 in the period. However, the Minutemen's first-half cushion was just enough, as they held on for the 1-point victory. This win will be a significant boost to Massachusetts's tournament resume, as it counts as a Quadrant 3 victory for the Minutemen. On the other hand, Buffalo will be forced to swallow a Quadrant 4 loss, their fourth of the season, which could have real consequences for their own tournament chances.

The loss will undoubtedly be a tough pill for Buffalo to swallow, as they had been expected to handle the Minutemen with ease. Instead, they now find themselves reeling from a stunning upset that will likely drop them in the rankings. For Massachusetts, this win is a major statement, proving that they can compete with and beat quality opponents on the road. As the season wears on, this victory will look more and more impressive on the Minutemen's resume, and could be a key factor in their tournament chances. With their current net ranking of 195, Massachusetts want to build on this momentum and make a push for a tournament berth.