VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton men's basketball plays the second of three straight home games to open the season when the Bearcats (0-1) host NJIT (1-0) Friday night at Dr. Bai Lee Court at the Events Center. The game finishes up a doubleheader and will begin at approximately 8 p.m. following the BU women's game.

The Bearcats began their season with an 86-75 loss to Cornell on Wednesday. The see-saw game featured six ties and 15 lead changes before the visiting Big Red used a late 13-0 run and a wide free throw margin to pull away. 

Freshman guard Sam Sessoms tied a school-record with 27 points in his collegiate debut. It marked the most points by a BU freshman in his debut in eight years. Sessoms hit 12-of-20 shots and added four assists in 33 minutes. Fellow newcomer Richard Caldwell, Jr. added 12 points - 10 in the second half when BU shot 52 percent to stay within striking distance. Senior guard J.C. Show had 11 points and three steals and classmate Caleb Stewart chipped in a career-high nine rebounds and three assists. 

Binghamton continues to play without two key contributors in 6-foot-9 senior center Thomas Bruce and 6-foot-8 sophomore wing Tyler Stewart - both out with injuries. 

NJIT is based in Newark and has been a Division I member for 13 years. The Highlanders drew attention for reaching the CIT semifinals in back-to-back seasons (2015-16), winning a combined 41 games in the two postseason years. Last season, NJIT went 14-16 and placed fourth in the Atlantic Sun Conference. The team returns four starters and 10 letterwinners from that squad.  NJIT has won four straight games against America East foes, including a 78-65 home win over UMass Lowell last December. NJIT was positioned sixth (of nine) in this year's ASUN preseason poll. 

In its season opener Wednesday at home, NJIT edged Colgate 81-78 in overtime. Senior Reilly Walsh talliled a career-high 21 points and sophomores Zach Cooks and San Antonio Brinson added 19 and 14 points, respectively. The team played without 6-foot-10 all-conference forward Abdul Lewis (12.1  pts., 8.8 rebs. last season).

This is the second meeting all-time between the two schools but first during BU's Division I era. Back in 1982-83, NJIT posted a 74-72 win over the then-Division III Colonials at West Gym.