The Binghamton men's basketball team (7-8 Overall, 1-1 America East) put together a gritty 79-75 victory against UMBC (7-10, 0-2) Wednesday evening at Dr. Bai Lee Court in Vestal. The win marks the team's first America East triumph of the season.

In this back-and-forth matchup, Brenton Mills led the way with 22 points – 16 of which came in the first half. Sam Sessoms followed suit with 20 points and four assists.

"It was a really good sign that our guys banded together after UMBC came back to take the lead in the second half," head coach Tommy Dempsey said. "They got the stops they needed, made key plays, and made key free throws down the stretch to find a way to win the game."

In his first career start, Dan Petcash opened it up early with a pair of 3-pointers to put the Bearcats on the board. Mills would then take over to help keep Binghamton in it, hitting his first four shots from long range. The Retrievers were solid in the paint, and took a 22-18 advantage before Jevon Brown knocked down a three and a free throw to tie it. Mills would go on to score eight of the team's next ten points, and the Bearcats went into the locker room with a 39-32 edge.

Leaving right where they left off, Mills and Pierre Sarr helped spark a 7-0 run to open it up to a 46-32 lead. UMBC fought back, scoring 18 of the game's next 22 points to pull ahead. The remainder of the second half went back-and-forth, as Sessoms started to heat up. Two free throws by Sessoms at the 2:10 mark gave the team a lead it would never relinquish. A few key defensive stops and some timely free throws by Richard Caldwell, Jr. sealed an important conference victory.

Alongside Mills and Sessoms, Sarr added 12 points and four rebounds despite late foul trouble. Tinsley added eight points, 13 rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

The Bearcats hit the road for a matchup at UMass-Lowell on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.