LOWELL, Mass. - UMass Lowell (10-15, 4-6 America East) scored seven of the game's final 10 points to push past visiting Binghamton men's basketball (12-13, 3-7 AE) 60-59 Saturday afternoon at the Costello Athletic Center. 

The Bearcats led 56-53 with 2:58 left after sophomore guard Timmy Rose converted a pretty floater in the lane. But UML answered with a three-pointer and a layup as BU missed three straight on the offensive end. Down 58-56, Rose was sent to the line with 0:25 left and made 1-of-2 to bring the Bearcats to within one. But the River Hawks broke the ensuing BU press and their dunk made it 60-57 with 0:12 left. 

Binghamton worked the ball around for a potential game-tying three and junior forward Willie Rodriguez was fouled on his attempt with 0.3 left. Needing all three foul shots to force overtime, Rodriguez missed the first off the front rim. He made the second and then inadvertently made the third when BU needed a miss, rebound and field goal. 

The evenly-played game featured eight ties and seven lead changes, though UML led for less than five minutes. Binghamton only made seven field goals in the second half (30%) 

Rodriguez led three players in double figures with 13 points - 11 of which came in the first half. Freshman guard Fard Muhammad and sophomore center Thomas Bruce added 10 points apiece.   

The Bearcats came out strong, using an 11-1 run to forge a 19-9 lead midway through the period. Rodriguez scored eight straight points during the run and finished the first half with 11 points (3-for-3 3-pt.). Aided by eight points from Muhammad, BU pushed its lead to 28-12 with 5:18 left after holding the River Hawks to 4-for-20 shooting. But the hosts closed the half with a 12-3 run to trim their margin to just seven, 31-24, at intermission. 

Binghamton now heads straight to Burlington in advance of Monday night's game at league-leading Vermont.