VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton (13-12, 10-4 America East) missed 16 of its first 18 shots and never found its offensive rhythm in a 52-46 loss to visiting Hartford (12-13, 8-6 AE) Saturday afternoon at the Events Center. The Bearcats were averaging more than 72 points per game during the team's four-game win streak but managed just 16 first-half points and lost for just the third time in the last 13 games.
Hartford senior forward Kenny Adeleke recorded a double-double of 16 points and 17 rebounds. Adeleke hit 6-of-8 shots and added three blocks and a pair of steals for the Hawks, who moved into sole possession of third place in the America East standings - two games behind second-place Binghamton.
"I'm glad we got this one out of our system before the conference tournament because we couldn't score the basketball for an extended period of time," head coach Al Walker said. "We fought hard and defended pretty well but we didn't have any offensive prowess. I thought Hartford played very well. Adeleke was terrific, especially in the second half. His physical presence on the glass was too much for us."
Senior captain
Andre Heard (Oklahoma City, Okla.) tallied a game-high 21 points to keep the Bearcats within striking distance. Junior guard
Steve Proctor (Largo, Md.) added 11 points but the remainder of BU's team shot a combined 4-for-34 (12%) and the Bearcats added to their misery by committing 16 turnovers. Binghamton entered the game ranked seventh in the nation in fewest turnovers (11.7).
Despite managing just five field goals in the opening 20 minutes, BU trailed just 23-16 at intermission. Heard and Proctor were the only Bearcats to connect on a field goal in the first half, with Heard netting 10 of his points during the period. In the second half, Hartford's lead swelled to as many as 14 points before BU used a 10-2 run to cut the deficit to six, 35-29, with 5:46 remaining. But Adeleke made back-to-back layups and the Hawks sealed the win with nine free throws in the final 1:31.
Aaron Cook added 13 points for Hartford, which stretched its win streak to five games.
Binghamton next hosts UMBC Monday night at 7 p.m.
