Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)

BRONX, N.Y. – Binghamton men’s basketball surrendered a 22-0 run in the game’s first 10 minutes and couldn’t recover in a 64-49 loss to host Fordham Friday night at storied Rose Hill Gymnasium. The quickness of the Atlantic-10 member Rams (1-1) was too much for BU (0-3), which shot just 34% and committed 23 turnovers – 16 in the first half when the Rams raced out to a 24-point bulge.

Freshman forward Ben Dickinson continued his sparkling play with a team-high 17 points. The Bearcats’ leading scorer in the first two games, sophomore guard Robert Mansell (25.0 ppg.) was limited to six points.

Binghamton struggled out of the gate against the Rams’ defensive pressure and transition offense. The Bearcats missed six of their first eight shots and committed nine turnovers in the first nine minutes. After a three-pointer from junior guard Carlyle Francis tied the score at 5-5, Fordham embarked on a devastating 22-0 run that spanned 8:01. The Rams hit 7-of-10 from the floor during the run, with most buckets coming off turnovers and fast break layups. A modest 7-0 run pulled BU to within 15 with 8:30 left. Dickinson scored six of his team-high eight points in a 3:40 span late in the half. Already ahead 33-17, Fordham used an 8-0 run to end the period and take a commanding 41-17 lead into intermission.

The Bearcats came out strong to start the second and an 11-0 run pulled them to within 13, 41-28, with 15:12 to play. But Fordham responded with an 8-0 run to keep BU at bay. Binghamton outscored its hosts 21-15 the rest of the way but 2-for-17 struggles from beyond the arc hampered any comeback bid.

“It was a turnover thing … we had too many in that first half,” head coach Mark Macon said. “At one point we had nine possessions and eight turnovers. But we played much better in the second half. Our zone slowed them down and we did a better job of controlling their inside players. We did beat them in the second half (32-23) but lost the game. I’m proud of our guys … they played the zone extremely well after just one day of practice on it. Our best basketball players have to be able to shoot the ball and get into the rhythm of the game. We’ll get back to the drawing board and keep moving forward. We have to be ready for Sunday (game at St. Peter’s).”

Binghamton shot 46% in the second period and outscored Fordham 32-23 but could draw no closer than 13 points. Freshman forward Omar Richards contributed nine points and four rebounds and junior walk-on Javon Ralling chipped in six points (3-for-3 FG) in nine minutes.

The Bearcats will remain in the Metropolitan area to face St. Peter’s Sunday night.

NOTES
More than 100 alumni and BU faithful attended a pregame reception and cheered on the team from behind the basket … Rose Hill Gym opened in 1925 and the Rams have played more than 900 games at the facility, the oldest in the nation for Division I.