Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)

VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton men's basketball begins to wind down a five-games-in-12-days stretch when the Bearcats (1-9) travel to Hamilton to face Colgate (2-7) Thursday night. The teams will tip from Cottrell Court at 7 p.m.

Binghamton will look to erase the sting of Monday's 63-52 home loss to Caldwell. In that game, sophomore forward Nick Madray recorded his second collegiate double-double with team-highs of 15 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore guard Marlon Beck II added 13 points and five assists. 

For the fourth consecutive game, BU's starting lineup consisted of three freshmen and two sophomores. The Bearcats have one of the youngest teams in the nation with its 14 roster members claiming just 10 combined years of collegiate experience. 

Freshman Dusan Perovic, the reigning America East Rookie of the Week, is averaging 12.5 points. Classmate Willie Rodriguez (9.9 ppg.) is second in scoring and leads the team in rebounding (5.1 rpg.).

Colgate is coming off an 88-52 home win over Division III Morrisville State on Tuesday. That win allowed the Raiders to snap a five-game losing skid that included tight contests against fellow America East member Albany (75-71), James Madison (77-71), Arizona State (78-71) and Sacred Heart (71-70). Colgate's other win came at Campbell (54-48) back on Nov. 22. Six of the team's seven losses have been by seven or fewer points. Against Morrisville, Colgate launched 34 three-pointers (made 10) and built a 22-point halftime lead. The hosts shots 51 percent and put all 13 players in the scoring column.
 
The team returns four starters and 14 letterwinners from a 13-18 team of a year ago. The Raiders graduated leading scorer Murphy Burnatowski, who burned the Bearcats throughout his career. Colgate was picked to finish eighth (out of 10) in the Patriot League Preseason Poll.
 
Senior guard Damon Sherman-Newsome leads the team with a 15.2 scoring average. Junior backcourt mate Austin Tillotson (14.0 ppg.) and 6-foot-11 senior center Ethan Jacobs (10.8 ppg.) are also in double figures.
 
Colgate leads the all-time series, which dates back to 1977, 9-2. The Raiders have won the last three meetings, including last season's 93-64 victory at the Events Center. In that game, the Raiders shot a sizzling 67 percent from the field and made 15 three-pointers. Tillotson went 9-of-9 en route to a game-high 25 points. Marlon Beck led the Bearcats with 14 points. Two years ago in Hamilton, Colgate posted another lopsided win, 74-47.