Box Score

Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)

VESTAL, N.Y. - Visiting Cornell drilled nine three-pointers in the first half and then used a 16-1 run early in the second half to pull away from Binghamton men's basketball (1-6) 68-54 Saturday afternoon at the Events Center.

The Big Red (4-4) made six straight threes early in the game to build a 23-12 lead. A three-point play by freshman forward Bobby Ahearn capped an 8-0 BU run that pulled the Bearcats to within three, 23-20, with 8:07 left in the half. But BU misfired on 10-of-12 to end the period and Cornell took a 35-27 cushion into intermission.

Binghamton scored the first five points of the second half to cut its margin to three, 32-25, but Cornell responded with the pivotal 15-point run, which spanned 6:39. The run was spearheaded by a pair of three-pointers and three mid-range jumpers from All-Ivy forward Shonn Miller, who wound up with a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Down 51-33 with 12:38 left, BU pulled no closer than 13 points the rest of the way. 

"We struggled today and as a group we're struggling right now," head coach Tommy Dempsey said. "We're in a little bit of a funk but we have a lot of chances going forward to play better basketball and we have to focus on the next game."

Sophomore guard Yosef Yacob scored a game-high 15 points - 11 in the second half. He hit 4-of-7 from the floor, 6-of-7 from the line and added four assists. Freshman guard Romello Walker added 10 points and seven rebounds.

The Bearcats shot just 33 percent in the second half (7-for-21) and for the game, left 10 points at the free throw line, going 16-for-26 (62%).

"I thought we did a good job protecting the ball in the first half and got good shots ... but we're not shooting the ball well. When your stats are what they are from three-point range, teams are going to pack it in the paint against us. We're going to have to make shots to stretch the defense. Every basket is tough for us right now ... it's a grind offensively and we have to find ways to get easier baskets. We're still trying to figure out who we are. It's a tough stretch and we have to stay the course and keep fighting in practice to get better. This is a marathon ... you don't get counted out in November."

The Bearcats renew acquaintances with former America East foe Boston University Wednesday night on the road. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. in Boston.