Winter break is officially over, and what does that mean? It means the Buffalo State Sports Round-up is back in full throttle! However, this week won’t feature the Buffalo State Sports Round-up you’re used to. 2026’s first edition will serve as an update on where each team stands following winter break and what awaits them this upcoming week. How did winter break treat the Bengals? Here’s where we find out.
Men’s Basketball:
The Buffalo State men’s basketball team stumbled into winter break, dropping three games in a row before taking a three-week break to celebrate the holidays. When they returned to the court, the struggles soon followed.
Since Jan. 6, the Bengals have notched only two wins in seven games, with a four-game losing streak separating each. After a strong 4-2 start, the team has slumped to 6-10, with a 2-7 record in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC), placing them seventh in the conference standings.
This week, the Bengals look to flip momentum back on their side with a rematch against the Cortland Red Dragons and an opportunity to complete a season sweep in the “Battle By The Lake” rivalry against Fredonia.
Women’s Basketball:
Just before everyone raced home for the holidays, the Buffalo State women’s basketball team got the monkey off its back, clinching their first win of the 2025-26 season over Hilbert College. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to change their luck.
Over winter break, the Bengals competed in seven games, but were only able to eke out one win during that span. Sitting at 2-14, 1-8 in SUNYAC play, the team has its work cut out, as they attempt to spark a remarkable in-season turnaround.
The women’s basketball team mirrors the men’s slate this week, with scheduled match-ups against Cortland on Tuesday and Fredonia on Friday.
Women’s Hockey:
Sticking with the women’s side of Buffalo State sports, we jump into the women’s hockey team and see how they performed on the ice to start the new year.
The Bengals had the hot hand before winter break hit, netting four-straight wins, while pitching three shutouts. A loss to St. John Fisher, coming back from the three-week layoff, cooled them off, though the team quickly rebounded, going 2-1-1 over the next two weeks. As of today, the Bengals hold a 10-6-1 record, despite a rough 2-4 start to their SUNYAC schedule.
This weekend, they’ll look to bring out the brooms in a home-and-home match-up against William & Smith College. Saturday’s game will be contested at the Ice Arena on campus, while Sunday’s game will be in Geneva on William & Smith’s home ice.
Men’s Hockey:
Opposite the women’s hockey team, the Buffalo State men’s hockey team was in dire need of some time off, losing three consecutive games ahead of winter break.
Despite almost a full month away from game action, the Bengals still couldn’t escape their lousy spell, winning only two of their six games before classes resumed this week. The rough patch has the club at 7-10-1, 4-6-1 in the SUNYAC, with seven games left to be played in the regular season.
This Friday night, at 7 p.m. inside the Ice Arena, the task is simple: beat Fredonia. A “Battle By The Lake” rivalry win could go a long way in getting the Bengals men’s hockey team back on track.
Men’s Volleyball:
Last, but certainly not least, the men’s volleyball team kicked off its 2026 campaign over the break with a pair of Tournaments: the Hobart Tournament and the SUNY Potsdam Invite.
Cruising through the competition, the Bengals won all four of their matches at the Hobart Tournament, defeating the hosting Statesmen to cap off an electric opening weekend. The impressive performance marked a milestone for Buffalo State men’s volleyball, as they were voted into the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III rankings for the first time in program history.
The following weekend, Buffalo State swept the SUNY Potsdam Invite with two convincing 4-set victories. They currently sit pretty at 6-0 and #16 in the AVCA rankings ahead of this weekend’s Baldwin Wallace Invite in Berea, Ohio.
Now that everyone is up to speed, the Buffalo State Sports Round-up will have its proper return next week, with coverage on each game from every sport in this week’s exciting slate. Stay warm and stay tuned!
