CATONSVILLE, Md. (Interstat) — The Buffalo Bulls edged the Maryland-Baltimore County Retrievers 83-79 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Tuesday night at Retriever Activities Center. Buffalo led by four at halftime and maintained a narrow advantage throughout the second half to secure the win. Tim Oboh led the Bulls with 19 points, while Daniel Freitag added 17. For UMBC, Caden Diggs and Jah’Likai King each scored 19 points. Ace Valentine contributed 15 points and six assists. The Bulls improved to 9-1 overall. The Retrievers fell to 6-4. Attendance was 845.

CATONSVILLE, Md. (Interstat) — In a tense, back-and-forth affair that came down to the final possession, the Buffalo Bulls edged the Maryland-Baltimore County Retrievers 83-79 in a non-conference men’s basketball game Tuesday night at the Retriever Activities Center. The game, played before an announced crowd of 845, was a tale of two halves defined by momentum swings and pivotal plays in the closing minutes. Buffalo improved to 9-1 on the season, while UMBC fell to 6-4. The first half was an offensive showcase, with both teams trading baskets and the lead changing hands multiple times. UMBC, fueled by the hot shooting of Jah’Likai King and Caden Diggs, took a narrow 43-39 advantage into the break. King had 14 of his 19 points before halftime, while Diggs added 10. Buffalo stayed close behind the interior dominance of Tim Oboh, who scored 13 of his game-high 19 points in the opening period. The second half saw Buffalo methodically chip away at the deficit. A key sequence occurred just past the midway point of the half. With UMBC leading 62-60, Buffalo’s Ezra McKenna connected on a critical 3-pointer off an assist from Ryan Sabol to give the Bulls a one-point lead, part of a larger 7-0 run that shifted the game’s momentum. UMBC refused to fade, answering with a 7-0 run of its own, capped by a Caden Diggs 3-pointer assisted by Ace Valentine, to reclaim a 72-69 lead with just over four minutes to play. The final minutes evolved into a pressure-packed exchange of free throws and crucial defensive stops. The most important stretch of the game unfolded in the last 35 seconds. With Buffalo clinging to an 81-79 lead after two Daniel Freitag free throws, UMBC had a chance to tie or take the lead. On the ensuing possession, Buffalo’s Angelo Brizzi stripped UMBC’s DJ Armstrong near midcourt with 20 seconds remaining, a critical defensive play that prevented the Retrievers from setting up a final shot. Buffalo’s Mikhail Pocknett was then fouled and calmly sank both free throws with five seconds left to extend the lead to four points. UMBC’s last-gasp attempts, a missed layup by Jah’Likai King and a missed 3-pointer by Ace Valentine as time expired, sealed the victory for the visiting Bulls. Beyond Oboh’s 19 points, Buffalo was led by Daniel Freitag’s 17 points and six rebounds, with several key free throws down the stretch. Ezra McKenna provided a vital spark off the bench with 13 points. For UMBC, Caden Diggs and Jah’Likai King each scored 19 points, while Ace Valentine filled the stat sheet with 15 points and six assists. Josh Odunowo contributed eight points and seven rebounds. The game was a statistical near-draw in many categories. Buffalo held slim advantages in points in the paint (40-36), points off turnovers (13-12), and fast-break points (11-10). The Bulls’ ability to execute in the final minute, highlighted by Brizzi’s steal and Pocknett’s clutch free throws, proved to be the ultimate difference. Buffalo, which entered as a narrow pregame favorite, overcame a halftime deficit to secure the road win. The combined score of 162 points surpassed the pregame over/under line of 147.5. The victory marked a bounce-back for Buffalo after a loss to Saint Bonaventure in its previous outing, while UMBC saw a two-game winning streak snapped. Buffalo next travels to face East Carolina on Sunday. UMBC returns to action at home against Army on Friday.

Preview: Buffalo Bulls at Maryland-Baltimore County Retrievers CATONSVILLE, Md. (Interstat) — A surging Buffalo squad looks to rebound from its first loss when it visits a tested Maryland-Baltimore County team in a nonconference men’s basketball matchup Tuesday night at Retriever Activities Center. The Bulls (8-1) saw their eight-game win streak snapped in a 77-69 home loss to Saint Bonaventure on Saturday. Despite the setback, Buffalo has been one of the early surprises of the season, boasting road wins at DePaul and Bucknell. Their offense runs through dynamic guard Daniel Freitag, who is averaging 21.4 points and 4.1 assists over his last seven games. He scored 33 points in a win over Vermont and 27 against RIT. In the loss to Bonaventure, Freitag had 17 points and seven assists, while Ryan Sabol led the team with 21 points. The Retrievers (6-3) have won two of their last three, including a 73-66 victory at Bucknell on Saturday. UMBC has shown resilience, with an overtime win against Wagner and a commanding 102-52 rout of Notre Dame. Guard Jah’Likai King paces the team, coming off a 20-point performance at Bucknell. Forward Josh Odunowo provides an interior presence, adding 12 points and two blocks in that win. Buffalo’s strength has been its backcourt, led by Freitag, but it will face a UMBC defense that forced 16 turnovers in its win at Bucknell. The Retrievers have weathered a tough schedule, with losses coming at Georgetown, George Washington and Dayton. The Bulls have relied on high-scoring performances, topping 80 points five times this season. UMBC has proven it can win in different styles, from a shootout against Morgan State (81-79) to a defensive battle against Delaware State (71-57). This game serves as a final nonconference test for both before upcoming holiday breaks. Buffalo visits East Carolina on Sunday, while UMBC hosts Army on Friday. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. EST Tuesday.