AMHERST, Mass. (Interstat) — In a taut Mid-American Conference clash defined by a dominant first half and a furious second-half rally, the Massachusetts Minutemen survived a last-second shot to edge the Buffalo Bulls 68-67 on Friday night at Alumni Arena.

The Minutemen, who led by as many as 16 points in the first half, saw that entire cushion evaporate under a relentless Buffalo comeback, only to make the final necessary plays to snap a two-game road skid and improve to 13-8 overall. Buffalo, which had won five of its last six at home, fell to 13-6.

The most critical phase of the game was unquestionably its frantic final minute. After Massachusetts forward Daniel Hankins-Sanford sank two free throws with 34 seconds left to give the Minutemen a 68-65 lead, Buffalo’s Ryan Sabol missed a jumper on the ensuing possession. Daniel Freitag, following his own miss, secured the offensive rebound and put it back to cut the deficit to one with 16 seconds remaining.

Massachusetts, inbounding under its own basket, then committed a devastating shot-clock violation, turning the ball over to Buffalo with 10 seconds left and no timeouts remaining for the Bulls. The stage was set for a final play.

Buffalo worked the ball to Freitag, who drove to his left and elevated for a contested jumper from just inside the free-throw line as the clock expired. The shot caromed off the rim and into the hands of Hankins-Sanford as the horn sounded, sealing the narrow road victory for the Minutemen before a crowd of 2,310.

The game’s narrative was one of starkly contrasting halves. Massachusetts built its commanding early lead behind efficient interior play and stifling defense. The Minutemen scored 38 first-half points, shooting 50% from the field while holding Buffalo to just 29 points on 37% shooting. Leonardo Bettiol, the 6-foot-9 forward from Roncade, Italy, was instrumental early, scoring 10 of his 16 points before halftime and helping Massachusetts dominate the glass to a 12-4 advantage in offensive rebounds for the game.

Buffalo, however, refused to capitulate. Sparked by the backcourt duo of Sabol and Freitag, the Bulls mounted a methodical and relentless comeback in the second half. They outscored Massachusetts 38-30 after intermission, shooting 53% from the floor. Sabol, a guard from Washington, D.C., was the engine, scoring 19 of his game-high 27 points in the second half. His step-back three-pointer with 5:20 to play gave Buffalo its first lead since the opening minutes at 61-59, capping a 22-6 run that erased the once-daunting deficit.

Freitag, from Bloomington, Minnesota, complemented Sabol with 18 points, seven assists and a critical block, while Noah Batchelor of Frederick, Maryland, added 16 points. Their efforts nearly overcame a Buffalo team that struggled at the free-throw line, making just 7 of 14 attempts.

Massachusetts countered Buffalo’s star guards with balanced scoring and crucial contributions from its frontcourt. Alongside Bettiol’s 16 points, Marcus Banks of Hampton, Virginia, led the Minutemen with 19 points, including three three-pointers. Hankins-Sanford of Charlotte, North Carolina, provided a vital 15 points and nine rebounds, with his final free throws proving decisive. Point guard Danny Carbuccia of White Plains, New York, directed the offense with six assists.

The game was a defensive struggle marked by efficiency rather than high volume. Both teams finished with 26 made field goals, but Massachusetts required 58 attempts to Buffalo’s 52. The Minutemen’s significant edge in second-chance opportunities, fueled by their work on the offensive glass, ultimately provided the slim margin of victory in a game where possessions were precious. Each team committed nearly double-digit turnovers, with Massachusetts forcing 11 and Buffalo forcing 10.

According to the Interstat ELO system, Massachusetts entered with a narrow 51.6% probability to win, a projection borne out in the tightest possible fashion. The Minutemen also covered the pregame spread of 1.5 points. The combined score of 135 points fell well under the over/under line of 159.5, underscoring the defensive grit displayed by both sides, particularly in a first half where Buffalo was held to its second-lowest scoring output of the season.

The victory gives Massachusetts momentum as it prepares for a road test at Miami (Ohio) on Tuesday. Buffalo, meanwhile, looks to rebound quickly when it travels to face Bowling Green, also on Tuesday. The two teams are scheduled for a rematch in Amherst on Feb. 21.