VESTAL, N.Y. - First-place Vermont (13-5, 3-0 America East) shot 51 percent and used a 20-6 first-half run to take control in a 67-50 win over Binghamton men's basketball (9-9, 0-3 AE) Wednesday night at Dr. Bai Lee Court at the Events Center.

The visiting Catamounts spread their scoring with just one player in double figures but seven with seven or more points.

"I thought we did a pretty good job defensively tonight to take them out of their rhythm," head coach Tommy Dempsey said. "Vermont is a very good and we held them in the 60s, which gave us a good chance to win ... but we didn't find enough offense tonight."

The Bearcats held Vermont 20 points under their conference scoring average and won the rebound battle (34-30) but shot just 32 percent (8-for-25 in each half).

Sophomore center Thomas Bruce posted his first double-double of the season with game-highs of 13 points and 10 rebounds. Bruce hit 3-of-4 from the floor and 7-of-10 from the line. Senior guard Marlon Beck and junior forward Willie Rodriguez added 12 points apiece.   

With the score tied at 15-15 midway through the first half, Vermont scored nine straight points as BU turned it over six times in a 3:21 span and went without a field goal for 8:27. By the time Beck stopped the 20-6 run with a three-pointer with 2:31 left, BU was in a double-digit hole, down 35-24. Adding to the challenge were four offensive fouls called on the Bearcats during a 12-minute stretch. 

Down 38-27 at the half, BU cut it to eight, 50-42, with 10:15 left after two Rodriguez three-pointers and a Beck steal and two free throws. But the Bearcats could pull no closer.

"We were in a tough spot tonight with two losses and then playing No. 1 (Vermont)," Dempsey said. "We haven't played well the last couple of games. But the season changes quickly and I've seen enough from this team to stay positive. Good teams play their way through struggles and I think we'll be a good team before the end of the year."

Binghamton hits the road for two straight games beginning with a Saturday afternoon tilt at New Hampshire.

NOTES
Rodriguez (945 points) and Beck (939) climbed closer to the 1,000-point mark. They are aiming to become the first BU teammates to reach the plateau in the same season since Jeffrey St. Fort and Mike Wright accomplished the feat in 2001-02.