STONY BROOK, N.Y. -  Second-seeded Stony Brook (18-12) opened the game with a 29-8 run and fended off seventh-seeded Binghamton men's basketball (12-20) down the stretch, 70-60 in an America East tournament quarterfinal game Wednesday night at the Island Federal Credit Union Arena. The Seawolves made 10-of-12 free throws in the final 1:34 to thwart a late BU rally. 

Down 54-37 with 9:21 remaining, the Bearcats embarked on a 9-0 run in 2:49 to pull within eight. Senior guard Marlon Beck drilled a three-pointer that made it 54-46. Then with 2:22 left, sophomore guard Timmy Rose converted a driving layup that again brought the Bearcats to within eight. After a Stony Brook turnover, BU had two good looks at the rim to pull closer but each shot rolled off. The Seawolves then put the game away with 10 free throw makes in the final 1:34. Rose and Rodriguez combined for seven points in the final minute but the Bearcats couldn't pull closer than seven. 

Junior forward Willie Rodriguez posted 20 points and a career-high 14 rebounds and classmate Bobby Ahearn added 15 points and seven boards. But no other player had more than two field goals and BU hindered its chances with 11 misses at the free throw line. 

 Stony Brook put two players over the 20-point mark and hit 10 three-pointers to pace its offense. 

Despite being down 21 points 11 minutes into the game, the Bearcats won the battle on the glass against the bigger Seawolves (42-39) and held an edge in the paint, testament to their grit throughout the game. 

The teams were tied 5-5 in the opening minutes before the host Seawolves used a 24-3 run to open up a 21-point cushion. The run was fueled by 7-of-9 shooting from three-point range. The Bearcats regrouped however, and outscored SBU 15-10 to end the half, cutting their margin to 16, 39-23. Ahearn (11 pts.) and Rodriguez (9 pts., 10 rebs.) led BU, which shot just 22 percent in the period. 

NOTES
Senior guard Marlon Beck finished his stellar four-year career with 1,034 points. He also padded his program-record three-point mark, which will conclude at 208... Rodriguez recorded his second double-double of the season and ninth of his career. He moved his career points total to a BU-best 1,105 heading into his senior season next winter.