ITHACA, N.Y. – Host Cornell (1-0) used a 9-0 run early in the second half to build a double-digit lead and the Big Red pinned an 84-64 loss on Binghamton men's basketball (0-1) in the season opener for both teams Tuesday night at Newman Arena.

Binghamton trailed 45-40 early in the second half but Cornell went on the decisive run to pull away. A Bearcats squad that started four underclassmen couldn't bring it back under 11 points the rest of the way. An 8-1 finishing run extended the final margin in the closing minutes.

Graduate student Pierre Sarr led the Bearcats with a career-high-tying 16 points. Sarr tallied 11 points in the first half when BU withstood 56 percent shooting from the Big Red to remain within striking distance. 

Senior guard Richard Caldwell, Jr. scored 12 points and freshman forward George Tinsley added 10 points and five rebounds. Sophomore guard Sam Sessoms dished out five assists with six points.    

Cornell's Jimmy Boeheim led all scorers with 24 points.
 
The Bearcats next head to East Lansing for a test against No. 1 Michigan State Sunday night. It's the first time the program will face the nation's top-ranked team.