VESTAL, N.Y. - Freshman guard
Sam Sessoms scored 13 of his team-high 19 points in the second half to lead Binghamton men's basketball (2-4) to a 78-73 home win over Sacred Heart (2-4) Saturday afternoon at Dr. Bai Lee Court at the Events Center.
Binghamton put four players in double figures and shot 59 percent in the decisive second half (46 pts.) to offset a 35-point performance from Sacred Heart guard Sean Hoehn. With the exception of Hoehn, BU shut down the Pioneers, limiting them to 14-of-55 shooting (25%). Entering the game ranked fourth in the nation in blocked shots (7.0/game), BU compiled 11 blocks by five different players.
"It was a good win ... I thought we worked hard and came out with great energy," head coach
Tommy Dempsey said. "Our guys kept fighting and played a really good second half."
The Bearcats trailed by one at intermission but took the lead for good on a three-pointer from senior forward
Caleb Stewart with 17:53 left. A ensuing 17-7 run featuring points by five different players extended the lead to double digits and BU didn't look back. Hoehn kept Sacred Heart close with 23 points in second half and BU's lead was just three, 68-65, with 4:19 left. But senior guard
J.C. Show cashed in a jumper and then after the Pioneers trimmed it back to four, senior guard
Timmy Rose drilled a big three-pointer from the left wing with 2:13 left to make it 73-66. Binhgamton then made five free throws in the final 1:02 to seal the win.
Sessoms made 8-of-14 shots, had four assists and pulled down a team-high eight rebounds. He bumped up his season scoring average to 17.8 points, which ranks fourth in the America East. Senior forward
Chancellor Barnard added 11 points (5-of-5 FG), eight rebounds and three blocks. Senior forward
Caleb Stewart led BU's blocks brigade with four. Show had 14 points and sophomore wing
Tyler Stewart added 13 points (11 in second half) and a pair of blocks.
Binghamton opened the game with a 10-0 run and led 19-8 with 12 minutes left in the half. Sacred Heart used a 23-8 run to overtake BU and the visitors led 33-32 at the half.
Binghamton next travels to West Point for a Wednesday night encounter with Army.
