VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton men's basketball (11-18, 2-12 America East) will honor its seven graduating seniors before facing Hartford (17-11, 10-4 AE) in the home finale of the 2017-18 season Sunday afternoon. The teams tip at 4 p.m. at the Events Center. 

The Bearcats are still alive for a postseason spot, but have to win their final two games and have Maine lose its remaining games (at Albany and vs. Vermont) to overtake the Black Bears for the eighth and final playoff spot. After Saturday's game, BU finishes out the regular season at Albany on Tuesday. 

QUICK HITS
• This is Binghamton's 71st season of basketball, 17th at the Division I level
• BU went 9-6 in non-conference play, tying the record for wins (9) set last year
• BU was picked to finish T-6th (of 9) in the Preseason Coaches' Poll
• Pregame BU will honors its seven graduating seniors: Bobby Ahearn, Justin McFadden, Jordan McRae, Dusan Perovic, Willie Rodriguez, John Schurman and Yosef Yacob 

Last time out
• Host Vermont stretched a seven-point halftime lead with 41 second-half points and pulled away from BU 75-54 on Wednesday in Burlington
• Sophomore guard Fard Muhammad (12 pts.) and junior forward Caleb Stewart (season-high 10 pts.) paced the Bearcats
• Junior center Thomas Bruce narrowly missed his 10th double-double of the season with nine points and 13 rebounds 

About Hartford
• Biggest surprise in the league this year as team was picked to finish eighth but currently sits in a tie for second place with 10-4 conference mark
• Hawks have won six of last seven, including a stunning 69-68 road win at Vermont last Sunday that snapped UVM's 33-game AE win streak 
• Junior guard Jason Dunne ranks sixth in the AE in scoring (15.1 ppg.)
• Team finished seventh in AE last season (9-23, 4-12 AE)
• Picked to finish eighth in AE Preseason Coaches' Poll 
 
All-time series vs. Hartford
Hartford leads the all-time series 22-13 on the strength of 10 straight wins between 2012-16. The teams have split the season series in each of the last two years. Hartford holds a 9-7 edge in Vestal. Six weeks ago in West Hartford, the Hawks blitzed BU 97-65, behind 18 three-pointers and 61 percent shooting.The Bearcats trailed 21-16 midway through the first half but were outscored 35-15 the rest of the period as Hartford caught fire from beyond the arc to build a 26-point halftime cushion. The Hawks hit 11-of-15 threes in the first half, including 6-of-6 from Travis Weatherington, who wound up with a game-high 34 points. Junior guard J.C. Show led BU with 11 points. Junior center Thomas Bruce added 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting.        
   
Binghamton in the America East
• The Bearcats are 104-156 (40%) in 16 years of America East play
• BU is 63-67 (48%) at home and 41-89 (32%) on road vs. America East foes
• BU won AE regular season and tournament titles in 2009 

70 is magic number on scoreboard
Binghamton is 9-4 when scoring 70 or more points and is 10-5 when holding opponents to less than 70. The Bearcats are 0-13 once an opponent reaches 70.

Rebounding is telling statistic
Binghamton is 10-5 when outrebounding opponents and 1-13 when outrebounded.

Muhammad has amped up offense
Sophomore guard Fard Muhammad is averaging 13.6 points over his last five games. On Feb. 15 against Stony Brook, Muhammad hit 6-of-9 field goals (5-of-8 3s) en route to a career-high 22 points. Muhammad also pulled down a career-high eight rebounds. He also became the fourth different Bearcat to score 20 or more points this season. On Wednesday in Burlington, Muhammad logged a career-high 38 minutes and netted 12 points. 

Seven seniors recognized pregame
Before Saturday's final home game, BU will honor its seven graduating seniors: Bobby Ahearn, Justin McFadden, Jordan McRae, Dusan Perovic, Willie Rodriguez, John Schurman and Yosef Yacob. Ahearn's 119 career games is second-most at Binghamton (Div. I era). Rodriguez will graduate as the program's scoring (1,371 pts.) and rebounding (641) leader. Perovic holds a share of the single-game scoring record (34 pts. at Boston Univ. on 12-3-14). Yacob totalled 667 points (14th) and 145 assists (7th) in 91 career games.   
   
Bruce notches ninth double-double of season
Junior center Thomas Bruce contributed 11 points and 13 rebounds in the loss at UMass Lowell last Sunday. It was his third double-double in the last four games and ninth of the season (2nd in AE). Bruce leads the AE in blocks (2.3) and field goal percentage (.610) and is second in rebounds (8.5).