DURHAM, N.H. – Freshman guard Sam Sessoms scored 20 of his game-high 28 points in the second half to lead visiting Binghamton men's basketball (7-18, 3-7 America East) to a 68-61 win over New Hampshire (3-20, 1-9 AE) Saturday afternoon at Lundholm Gym.

Binghamton led from start to finish but needed four free throws in the final 18 seconds to complete a season-sweep of UNH. The win opened up a three-game lead for BU over the Wildcats as both teams push for a playoff spot with six regular season games remaining.

Sessoms scored 10 points in the first 6:44 of the second half as BU stretched an eight-point halftime lead. The Wildcats cut it to 46-44, however, with 13:43 remaining. But the Bearcats responded with an 8-0 run and never looked back.

It was the ninth 20+ game for Sessoms, who is ranked No. 6 in the nation in freshman scoring (17.7 ppg. entering game).

Senior forward Caleb Stewart added 16 points on 5-of-7 marksmanship and seniors Chancellor Barnard and Everson Davis chipped in eight points apiece.

Binghamton hit 7-of-11 out of the gate and opened up a 20-8 cushion halfway through the opening period. New Hampshire countered with a 12-1 run to bring it back to one, 21-20, with 7:19 left. But BU steadied itself with a 12-5 run to close the half and take a 33-25 lead to the locker room.

Stewart (9 pts.) and Sessoms (8) combined for 17 points and junior guard Richard Caldwell, Jr. offered a spark with five points in eight minutes.

The Bearcats return home to host defending conference champion UMBC Wednesday at the Events Center.

NOTES
It was the ninth time this season Sessoms has scored 20 or more points ... it was his second-highest output, behind only the 32 points he scored against UMass Lowell on Jan. 23 ... the season sweep of UNH gives BU a two-game cushion in the standings plus the tiebreaker edge. Now firmly in seventh place and a half-game behind sixth-place Maine, BU can look upward for playoff position in the season's final four weeks.