ALBANY, N.Y. - Host Albany (11-9, 2-3 America East) shot above 70 percent for most of the game and eased past Binghamton men's basketball (9-11, 0-5 AE) 84-65 Thursday night at SEFCU Arena. 

Down nine at half, BU cut its deficit to as few as seven early in the second period but the Danes kept up their offensive efficiency, shooting above 70 percent for more than 30 minutes of the game before settling on 65 percent. Binghamton could pull no closer than seven over the final 15 minutes and lost for the 13th straight time against its longtime SUNY rival. 

Junior forward Willie Rodriguez (7-of-11 FG)  tallied 15 of his team-high 21 points in the second half, including 10 in a 5:31 span that pulled BU to within 51-44. Rodriguez eclipsed the 20-point mark for the third time this season and 14th in his stellar career before departing late in the game. He now has 973 career points and is within striking range of the 1,000-point plateau midway through his third collegiate season. 

Senior guard Marlon Beck joined Rodriguez in double figures with 11 points, lifting his career total to 965. He added four assists.  

"Our defense was a step slow in the first half," head coach Tommy Dempsey said. "It was a good first half both ways ... but we struggled against their 1-3-1. I thought we attacked it better in the second half but didn't find enough answers defensively. We battled on the glass, though, and did some good things. We are playing better than our record."

Both teams were clocking on offense early and there were five lead changes in the first 12 minutes. Binghamton hit 7-of-10 to start and led 15-14 on a three-pointer from junior center Dusan Perovic with 13:46 to play. But Albany kept up its torrid pace and used a 15-2 run spanning six minutes to build a 29-17 lead. The Great Danes shot above 70 percent for most of the half and finished at 71% (5-of-6 3s) with a 40-31 cushion. Binghamton shot 52 percent and used a late layup from sophomore guard Everson Davis to bring it back to single digits at intermission.   

The Bearcats return home to host Stony Brook at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Events Center.

NOTES
Rodriguez (973 pts.) and Beck (965) are looking to become the first BU teammates since 2001-02 to reach the 1,000-point plateau in the same season.