© 2024 Western New York Public Broadcasting Association

140 Lower Terrace
Buffalo, NY 14202

Mailing Address:
Horizons Plaza P.O. Box 1263
Buffalo, NY 14240-1263

Buffalo Toronto Public Media | Phone 716-845-7000
WBFO Newsroom | Phone: 716-845-7040
Your NPR Station
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Bulls give fans a thrill despite losing first match at NCAA tournament

Avery Schneider
/
WBFO News

Friday’s NCAA tournament match between the University at Buffalo and West Virginia was a gripping competition.UB caught up to tie in the late second half, but West Virginia pulled away in the final few minutes.

A great game, but a heartbreaker is how UB junior Yanava Hawkins described the 68 to 62 outcome of the Bulls loss to the Mountaineers. West Virginia is the top turnover-creating team in the county, and she says that along with lack of rebounds is what led to UB’s loss. Hawkins says what brought the team to the big dance in the first place is their cohesion.

“I think their drive and their chemistry, you can definitely tell those top five players really clicked over the season. They knew each other’s weaknesses and strengths and balanced them out,” said Hawkins.

Friday’s crowd at the UB Student Union watch party was more faculty and families than just students, because UB is on spring break. Hawkins says it’s going to be a fun, pride-filled atmosphere when students return, with just a tinge of sadness that the Bulls couldn’t go further. When the players return from Columbus, she says they’ll get a well-deserved warm reception.

“Well we’ll still congratulate them. I mean, we can’t be mad at them I guess. You can only be proud of them, honestly," Hawkins said.

UB students have big hopes that the Bulls first visit to March Madness will be the start of a trend for next year and beyond.

Avery began his broadcasting career as a disc jockey for WRUB, the University at Buffalo’s student-run radio station.