The UB football office has confirmed the signings of 27 players to National Letters of Intent. Head Coach Craig Cirbus said, "We are excited at the enthusiasm and response that this recruiting class showed during their official visits. After meeting faculty members, touring our world-class academic and non-academic facilities, and also after sharing the goals, hopes and visions of this university with them, we became a very competitive option for these recruits. Athletically, our competition was mostly Mid-American (Division I-A) programs and academically, our competition was Ivy League programs and many of the prestigious public and private institutions of the Northeast.

"This university's commitment to future excellence in athletics while still maintaining its stronghold of excellence and beyond in the undergraduate departments swayed many recruits and their families," he said. "The future move to the Mid-American Conference was an obvious help to our efforts. One objective was to recruit successful high school programs-programs that had a history of winning, that put a high priority on success both on and off the field and programs that resonated the high standards that we have grown to expect from this football team. In that respect, we fared extremely well."

The football office announced that spring practice will begin March 30 and conclude with the annual Blue/White game April 27 at UB Stadium.

The following have signed National Letters of Intent to play football at UB:

NAME POSITION HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL

Kulaa Bacheyie LB LaSalle, ON/Sandwich Secondary

Tyrese Benning OL Buffalo, NY/Turner/Carroll

Steve Blake DB Rochester, NY/Eastridge/Hudson Valley CC

Roshon Bradley OL Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute

Dan Curcione LB Brick, NJ/Brick Township Memorial

Rychard Dykes WR Syracuse, NY/Corcoran

Bill Feldmaier QB Birmingham, MI/Seaholm

Brian Garontakos LB W. Bloomfield, MI/Orchard Lake St. Mary's

Doug Goeckel WR Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South

Drew Haddad WR Cleveland, OH/St. Ignatius

Matt Harrington OL Albion, NY/Albion

Jermaine Jennings DE Buffalo, NY/Turner/Carroll

Kevin Johnson TB New Kensington, PA/Valley

Gabe Kogler TE Hamburg, NY/Hamburg

Jeff Lawrence DB Youngstown, OH/Anderson-Fitch

Justin Long DL Kent, OH/Kent-Roosevelt

Dom Monacelli OL Caledonia, NY/Caledonia-Mumford

Geoff Panteck QB Hinckley, OH/St. Ignatius

Enrico Pierre WR Montreal, QUE/Vieux College

Eric Pipkins DB Arnold, PA/Valley

David Pruce DL Chardon, OH/Chardon

Joshua Roth FB Conewango, NY/Pine Valley

Dan Shefferly FB Grosse Pointe Woods, MI/Grosse Pointe

Brad Tanton DL Vestal, NY/Vestal

Josh Trexler LB Elmira, NY/Elmira Free

Theron Walker TB Pickering, ON/Dunbarton

Londell Young LB Brooklyn, NY/Brooklyn Boys & Girls/Nassau CC

The Bulls picked up an important road victory Saturday night with an 85-77 win over Northeastern Illinois. UB remains in second place in the Mid-Continent Conference, and is 12-8 overall and 9-4 in league play prior to their Feb. 12 meeting at Chicago State. UB trailed 35-28 at the half but rallied in the second half shooting 48.5 percent (16-of-33) in the final stanza. For the game, the Bulls shot 45.2 percent (28-of-62) including 42.9 percent (6-of-14) from behind the three-point arc. Mike Martinho led the Bulls with 23 points, including four three-pointers, and seven assists. He was 9-of-13 from the free throw line. Robert Harris added a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Jamie Anderson and Bernard Wheeler also scored in double figures with 13 and 11 respectively. Marshall Freeman pulled down 11 boards.

Earlier in the week, the Bulls' 16-game home winning streak was snapped by Missouri-Kansas City 72-63. Anderson and Matt Clemens tied for game-high honors with 16 points apiece.

The Royals suffered a 99-71 loss at Northeastern Illinois Saturday night but remained in first place prior to the Feb. 13 deadline when the top team is awarded the host site for the Mid-Continent Conference tournament. UB, at 17-5 overall and 9-3 in league play, is tied with Youngstown State for the top spot but holds the tie-breaker over the Penguins should both teams finished tied on the 13th.

Alicia Kollmorgen led the Royals, scoring a career-high 14 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Anne Gallagher also added 14 points. Brenna Doty, Kim Coon and Megan McCray each contributed 10 points for the Royals. NEIU shot 52.5 percent (32-of-61) against a Royals team that leads the Mid-Continent Conference and is third nationally in field goal percentage defense at 35.0. Earlier in the week, the Royals set an all-time record, winning their 13th consecutive home game 68-52 over Missouri-Kansas City at Alumni Arena. The win eclipses the old mark of 12 straight won by the Royals between Feb. 26, 1994 and Jan. 23, 1995. Doty scored 21 points; Gallagher added 13 with 10 rebounds Nicole Blakeslee collected 11 points and four blocked shots.

The 1996 spring men's tennis season opened over the weekend as the Bulls traveled to Ithaca for the Cornell Invitational. Mike Proulx led the Bulls, winning the consolation finals over his opponent from Binghamton. Proulx also defeated opponents from Colgate and the University of Rochester to advance.

The Bulls posted a 20-15 win over East Coast Wrestling Association foe Bucknell Saturday at Alumni Arena. UB picked up wins by Brian Dowdall (118 pounds), Jason Wartinger (126), Anthony Conte (158), Marcus Hutchins (167), George Chamoun (177) and Arturo Mazzeo (190).

UB is now 5-4 on the year in dual meet competition.

- Ted Wasko, Sports Information Office