VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton men's basketball (7-20, 4-10 America East) put five players in double figures and matched its season scoring high in an 81-77 win over UMass Lowell (11-17, 7-8 AE) Saturday afternoon at Dr. Bai Lee Court at the Events Center.

The Bearcats led from start to finish and held a 71-59 cushion with 3:48 left before the River Hawks made a late run. A 20-8 Lowell run brought their deficit to just two, 79-77, with 10 seconds left but junior guard Marlon Beck sealed the win with two free throws with 0:09 left.

Binghamton made 8-of-10 free throws in the final 0:56 to complete the season sweep of the River Hawks. 

"It was a good game ... we had good offensive rhythm and it was one of our best offensive outputs of the season, in terms of scoring and only having nine turnovers," head coach Tommy Demspey said. "UMass Lowell is one of the toughest teams in the league and they never seem to go away. They battle everyone for 40 minutes but we did what we needed to do, made some big shots and closed it out from the free throw line."

Beck tallied 14 points, 10 of which came in the second half. He was 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Freshman guard Timmy Rose went for 13 points and added five rebounds and three assists. Sophomore forward Willie Rodriguez, second-year center Bobby Ahearn and freshman center Thomas Bruce all chipped in 11 points.

The Bearcats jumped out to a 28-14 lead halfway through the first period before Lowell trimmed BU's lead to eight, 39-31 at intermission. The River Hawks shot 55 percent in the second half to keep it close, but BU hit 16-of-21 free throws to keep its cushion. Binghamton turned 13 Lowell turnovers into 24 points.

Binghamton next plays at UMBC on Wednesday in its second-to-last regular season game.  

NOTES
Binghamton's win was its second in the last three games ... BU has now surpassed its win total from a year ago.