BALTIMORE, Md. – Pierre Sarr hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 30 seconds left, George Tinsley blocked a potential game-winning layup with four seconds left and Richard Caldwell, Jr. sank two free throws with four seconds left to lift Binghamton men's basketball (10-18, 4-11 America East) to a crucial 76-74 road win over UMBC (14-15, 7-7 AE) Wednesday night at the UMBC Event Center. The win over the league's hottest team snapped UMBC's five-game win streak and gave the Bearcats the season sweep over the Retrievers.  

Sophomore guard Sam Sessoms scored a game-high 24 points and the Bearcats hung on in the frantic closing seconds as the Retrievers rebounded an intentional free throw miss with 2.1 seconds left but a putback was released after the horn.

With the win, BU has won two of its last three and coupled with Maine's loss to UNH, Binghamton climbed over the Black Bears and into the final playoff spot with two games remaining in the regular season.

"Everyone had us dead and buried … except us," head coach Tommy Dempsey said. "Tonight was a huge program win and I'm really proud of our players."

Binghamton trailed 54-46 before embarking on a 20-7 run midway through the second half. A Sessoms 3-pointer with 7:08 left capped the run and gave BU a 66-61 lead.

Tinsley (16 pts.) sank a pair of free throws to give the Bearcats a 71-66 lead with 2:39 left before UMBC made a push with seven straight points, including a 3-pointer with one minute left to grab a 73-71 lead.

But Sarr (11 pt., 9 rebs.)  dropped in his clutch 3-pointer to give BU its final lead. After the Tinsley block, Caldwell (16 pts.) hit the floor to secure the rebound and was fouled. His pair of free throws finished the scoring for the Bearcats.     

Sessoms was on fire to start the game. He scored 11 of BU's first 16 points and hit 4-of-6 from 3-point range to wind up with 16 points at the half. The Bearcats led 22-15 halfway through the period before the hosts countered with a 16-2 run. But BU finished the half with a 10-5 edge to hit the locker room down 36-34.

Binghamton concludes its regular season Saturday afternoon at New Hampshire. Maine has two games remaining: Saturday against UMBC and Tuesday at Hartford.