VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton men's basketball wraps up its 2017-18 season Monday night when the Bearcats (11-19, 2-13 America East) face longtime SUNY rival Albany (21-9, 9-6 AE) at 7 p.m. at SEFCU Arena. 

The Bearcats will look for the season sweep of the Great Danes after posting a home win over Albany back on Jan. 15.

Junior guard J.C. Show leads BU with a 14.0 scoring average. Junior center Thomas Bruce is averaging 11.2 points and a team-best 9.0 rebounds. Set to play his final collegiate game, senior forward Willie Rodriguez will add to his program-record scoring (1,375 pts.) and rebounding (648 rebs.) marks. 


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
• The Bearcats have been eliminated from playoff contention and close the season with tonight's game 

Last time out
• Hartford used a late 10-2 run and made 5-of-6 FT in final 0:40 to seal a 67-57 win over the Bearcats on Saturday
• The Hawks made just one more field goal but went 18-of-23 at the FT line
• Sophomore guard Fard Muhammad led BU with 14 points (4-of-8 3-pt. FG)
• Junior guard J.C. Show hit 3-of-4 three-pointers for 13 points
• Junior center Thomas Bruce just missed his 10th double-double with nine points and 13 rebounds      
   
About Albany
• Team has locked in the No. 4 seed for the upcoming America East tournament and will host Stony Brook in the quarterfinals Saturday night
• Great Danes have won 20+ games in four consecutive seasons
• Coming off an 89-79 home win over Maine on Saturday
• Started out 0-2 in AE play but have gone 9-4 since
• Picked to finish second in AE Preseason Coaches' Poll 
 
All-time series vs. Albany
Since both teams elevated to Division I and entered the America East, Albany leads the all-time series, 20-14. The Bearcats began the Division I era of the rivalry with eight wins in nine games between 2002-05. The teams then split 10 games between 2005-10. Back on Jan. 15, the Bearcats used a 24-8 second-half run to pull away and then made 10-of-10 free throws in the final 1:16 to seal a 79-66 win at the Events Center — a win that snapped a 14-game Albany win streak in the series. Senior forward Willie Rodriguez scored 11 of his game-high 20 points during the big run, which spanned six minutes midway through the second half. The Bearcats stretched a 35-33 lead to 59-41 by hitting 6-of-9 shots, including four three-pointers. After holding a 29-28 halftime lead, BU shot 58 percent in the second half and converted 24-of-29 free throws (83%) to put 50 points on the board.  The first game between the two teams took place in the 1948-49 season (a 76-67 BU win).   

Bearcats rank among America East leaders
Led by junior center Thomas Bruce, several Bearcats are among the statistical leaders in the America East. Bruce is first in blocks (2.1, 35th in nation) and second in both field goal percentage (.598) and rebounding (9.0, 44th in nation). Junior guard J.C. Show is third in three-pointers (2.5), eighth in steals (1.2) and 12th in scoring (14.0). Sophomore guard Fard Muhammad is fourth in three-point percentage (.420) and eighth in made threes (2.1). As a team, BU ranks fourth in three-point percentage (.356) and fifth in scoring defense (70.3) and field goal percentage (.445). The Bearcats continue to lead the league in blocks (4.3/game). 
   
Muhammad has amped up offense
Sophomore guard Fard Muhammad is averaging 13.6 points over his last six 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. He has scored in double figures four straight games. 

Seven seniors recognized pregame
Before Saturday's final home game, BU honored 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 (1,375 pts.) and rebounding (648) 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 making strong case for repeat All-Defensive Team honors
Junior center Thomas Bruce is padding his resume for America East All-Defensive Team consideration. Bruce has nine double-doubles on the season and has pulled down 13 rebounds in each of his last three games. He continues to lead the AE in blocks (2.1) and ranks second in both field goal percentage (.598) and rebounds (9.0). He was an All-Defensive Team selection last year. 

Show scores 20+ in back-to-back games
Junior guard J.C. Show scored 23 points against UMBC on Feb. 8 one game after netting 20 at Maine. He has hit for 20 or more points six times this season. Show ranks third in the America East in three-pointers per game (2.5) and has hit five or more 3s six times this season.  

Rodriguez hauls in 11 boards at UMBC, sets career record
Senior forward Willie Rodriguez already is the program's all-time scoring leader (Div. I era) with 1,375 points. He currently ranks sixth all-time in BU's 71 years of basketball. But on Jan. 24 at UMBC he grabbed 11 rebounds to also became the all-time rebounds leader (Div. I era). He currently has 648 (7th all-time) after passing seven-footer Nick Billings (2001-05), who graduated with 598. Rodriguez ranks sixth in career scoring and fifth in rebounding among current AE players.
 
Bruce sets school record with 19 rebounds against UMass Lowell
Junior center Thomas Bruce etched his name into the BU record books (Div. I era) with a 19-rebound performance Sunday against UMass Lowell. Bruce had five offensive boards and 14 defensive to break the old mark of 18, set by Jordan Reed vs. St. Peter's on Nov. 18, 2012. Thirteen of those rebounds came in the second half against UMass Lowell and the 19 total boards are the most of any America East player this season. Bruce's previous high was 16 rebounds, set against Hartford last winter. He also added 13 points to register his sixth double-double of the season.  

Bruce one of nation's elite shot blockers
Junior center Thomas Bruce ranks 35th in the nation in blocks (2.1/game). He has rejected three or more shots 11 times this season (5 or more four times), including a career-high six against Army on Dec. 6.