VESTAL, N.Y. - Visiting Hartford (15-14, 8-6 America East) hit four 3-pointers in the final 4:47 and then converted the game-winning layup with seven seconds left to overtake Binghamton men's basketball (9-18, 3-11 AE) 75-74 Saturday afternoon at the Events Center. The Bearcats, who led by as many as 24 points early in the game and led for more than 37 minutes, missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer with two seconds left.

The Hawks began to chip away at a 13-point halftime deficit but still trailed 64-55 with 6:11 left. When sophomore guard Sam Sessoms converted a pair of free throws with 5:03 left, BU held a 66-58 lead. But Hartford went on a 14-3 run which featured four 3-pointers and gave them a 72-69 lead with 1:35 left.

Down two in the final minute, BU took its final lead 74-73 when freshman guard Hakon Hjalmarsson drilled a 3-pointer from the left wing with 24 seconds left. The Hawks responded, however, with a power move to the hoop by Traci Carter, leaving the Bearcats just seven seconds left to go for the win. Sessoms went the length of the court off the inbounds but with time winding down, pulled up for a deep 3-point attempt that was off the mark.

Sessoms led all scorers with 22 points - 10 coming in the final 10 minutes. Senior guard Richard Caldwell, Jr. scored 18 points and keyed a stunning game-opening 26-2 Bearcats run with 11 points in the first eight minutes. Senior Pierre Sarr, who along with Caldwell was recognized in a pregame senior ceremony, added 11 points, eight rebounds and four steals.    

Binghamton was sizzling out of the gate and the 2,911 fans were treated to one of the biggest opening runs in program history as BU made 11-of-17 (65%) to build a 24-point cushion just seven minutes into the game. But Hartford regrouped and used an ensuing 20-8 run to bring it back to a 12-point margin.  The Hawks pulled to within single digits early in the second half and limited BU to just eight second-half field goals and 30 points.

The Bearcats have two games remaining in the regular season and sit a half-game behind Maine for the eighth and final playoff spot heading into Saturday night's action. Binghamton plays at UMBC on Wednesday and at New Hampshire on Saturday. Maine is at Stony Brook Saturday night, hosts New Hampshire Wednesday, hosts UMBC Saturday and finishes at Hartford on March 3.