AMHERST, N.Y. - Binghamton men's tennis (12-8, 3-3 MAC) played another tight match against longtime SUNY rival Buffalo (11-7, 4-3 MAC) but came up short in a key Mid-American Conference match, losing 5-2 Thursday afternoon at Sweet Home High School tennis courts. 

The battle between the 2015 MAC finalists had a playoff spot dangling on the line and the host Bulls seized the postseason berth with the win. Binghamton can still qualify for its second straight MAC tournament berth by beating Northern Illinois on Saturday at home.

"We got out-coached, out-hustled and out-played today," head coach Nick Zieziula said. "We left our chances on the table and now we need to put this behind us and lock in on preparing for Northern Illinois. We still control our own destiny and if we can take care of the small things that we can control between now and through the last handshake on Saturday, then we can get the win we need." 

Buffalo won all three doubles matches to grab an early 1-0 lead. In singles, the Bearcats won at Nos. 4 and 6 and forced a deciding third set at Nos. 1, 2 and 5 but ultimately came up short.

Junior No. 4 Thomas Caputo won his sixth consecutive match with a 7-6, 6-4 win. Junior No. 6 Frenk Kote won his fourth straight with a 7-5, 6-1 victory. 

The Bearcats host NIU at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The winner advances to the four-team MAC tournament, which begins April 29 in Dekalb, Ill.
 

Buffalo 5, Binghamton 2
DOUBLES
1. Hromic/Alvarez (UB) def. Hazarika/Cestarollo (BU), 6-3
2. Arevallilo/Nittolo (UB) def. Kote/Caputo (BU), 6-4
3. Mehta/Miller (UB) def. Hureau/Josh Druger (BU), 6-0

Order of finish: 3,2,1

SINGLES
1. Sergio Arevalillo (UB) def. Sid Hazarika, (BU), 0-6, 7-6, 6-3
2. Pablo Alvarez (UB) def. Eliott Hureau (BU), 6-1, 5-7, 6-3
3. Amar Hromic (UB) def. Ludovico Cestarollo (BU), 6-1, 6-2
4. Thomas Caputo (BU) def. Akhil Mehta (UB), 7-6, 6-4
5. Ethan Nittolo (UB) def. Valentin Bouchet (BU), 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
6. Frenk Kote (BU) def. Tony Miller (UB), 7-5, 6-1

Order of finish: 3, 6, 2, 4, 5*, 1