On Friday, the (6-6) Buffalo Bulls will visit the Breslin Center to clash with the (8-4) Michigan State Spartans. The Bulls, 0-2 on the road this season, defeated SUNY Canton in their most recent game. The Spartans, 4-1 at home, are on a three-game winning streak. This game is the final non-conference bout for both programs.
Tip-off from East Lansing, MI, is at 6:00 p.m. ET. MSU is a 15.5-point spread favorite, and the game total is 144.5 points scored.
Buffalo lost four of its first five games but responded with a four-game winning streak. Since then, the Bulls have dropped two of their last three, dropping games to Tulane and West Virginia. A win over Michigan State would be a statement win for their non-conference schedule and a significant momentum boost ahead of MAC competition.
In the win over SUNY Canton, Buffalo scored 129 points, 66 in the first half and 63 in the second. The Bulls outscored the Kangaroos on 70.4 percent shooting from the field. Buffalo was 12-of-26 from distance and 17-for-21 from the foul line. They led by as many as 71, grabbed 35 more rebounds than their opponent, and forced 15 turnovers.
Just a few highlights from tonight's win. ?? #UBhornsUP pic.twitter.com/yZaxsfqdoJ
— UB Men's Basketball (@UBmenshoops) December 22, 2022
Buffalo is scoring 79.8 points per game and shooting 47.0 percent from the field, including 31.9 percent from three-point range. Its offensive efficiency rating, adjusted for schedule, is ranked 180th, per KenPom. Buffalo's leading scorer is sophomore guard Curtis Jones, who's averaging 14.8 points on 46.9 percent shooting. The Bulls also have six other players scoring over seven points per game.
Buffalo gives up 76.3 points per game on defense, and its opponents shoot 43.5 percent from the floor, including 31.6 percent from long range. Its adjusted defensive efficiency rating is ranked 212th in D-1. The Bulls' assist-to-turnover ratio (0.78) is 309th out of 363 teams.