The Eastern Michigan University men’s basketball team traveled to Alumni Arena on Tuesday, March 3, facing a tough Mid-American Conference (MAC) road test against the University at Buffalo. In a game that mirrored the ups and downs of their 2025-26 campaign, the Eagles, who are 10-20, 4-13 in the MAC, displayed remarkable resilience in the second half but ultimately succumbed to the Buffalo Bulls, who are 17-13 and 7-10 in the MAC by a final score of 72-67.
A challenging first half
From the opening tip, the Bulls took control of the tempo, fueled by an explosive offensive performance from Ryan Sabol. Buffalo’s offense found its rhythm early, building a substantial lead throughout the first period. Sabol was nearly unstoppable in the opening 20 minutes, lighting up the scoreboard with 13 points to help his team establish a 43-27 lead by halftime.
The 16-point deficit left the Eagles with a mountain to climb as they headed into the locker room. Buffalo's efficiency from beyond the arc and EMU's inability to contain Sabol’s perimeter shooting proved to be the primary difference-makers in the first half.
The comeback effort
Refusing to go quietly, Eastern Michigan emerged from the break with renewed defensive intensity and a more balanced offensive attack. The Eagles began chipping away at the lead, outscoring the Bulls 40-29 in the second half. This 11-point swing was sparked by a more aggressive approach in the paint and improved ball movement.
Mohammad Habhab anchored the Eagles' effort, turning in a stellar all-around performance. Habhab finished the night with a team-high 18 points, while also leading the squad with eight rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. His presence on both ends of the floor provided the spark EMU needed to make the game competitive in the closing minutes.
Supporting Habhab’s effort were Gregory Lawson II, who contributed 15 points, and Addison Patterson, who added 12 points. Despite these contributions, the Eagles could not find a way to stop Sabol, who added another 14 points in the second half to finish with a game-high 27 points. Sabol’s final line included 9-of-16 shooting from the field and a lethal 5-of-9 mark from three-point range.
Historical and statistical context
The loss continues a difficult trend for the Eagles when playing in Buffalo. Historically, Alumni Arena has been a house of horrors for Eastern Michigan; with Tuesday’s result, EMU’s all-time road record against the Bulls drops to a meager 3-15 . Overall, the Eagles now trail the head-to-head series with Buffalo 14-23.
Statistically, the game was decided at the free-throw line and from the perimeter. While EMU fought back in the second half, Buffalo’s Noah Batchelor (13 points) and Angelo Brizzi (11 points) provided enough secondary scoring to keep the Eagles at bay. Sabol’s perfect 4-for-4 performance from the charity stripe also helped seal the victory for the Bulls.
MAC standings and the road ahead
The defeat keeps Eastern Michigan near the bottom of the MAC standings, tied with Western Michigan and Northern Illinois at 4-13 in conference play. Meanwhile, the win bolsters Buffalo’s position as they look toward the conference tournament.
The Eagles will now return home to Ypsilanti for their final game of the regular season. Eastern is set to host Bowling Green State University on Friday, March 6, for Senior Night at the Gervin GameAbove Center. It will be an emotional evening as the program honors its graduating players and looks to carry the momentum of their strong second-half performance into the season finale.
