VESTAL, N.Y. - Visiting Cornell (1-0) cashed in on 32 free throw attempts, including 28 in the second half to hold off Binghamton men's basketball (0-1) 76-69 in the season opener for both teams Tuesday night at Dr. Bai Lee Court at the Events Center. The game drew 2,141 fans, who returned to the Events Center for the first time since February 2020.

The Bearcats never led but also didn't trail by more than seven points in the final 12 minutes of the game. But foul trouble and cold outside shooting (6-for-35 from 3-point range) cost BU a chance at a win. 

"I expected us to be a little nervous and it definitely showed," first-year head coach Levell Sanders said. "I thought our energy was fine but I didn't think we were ready to execute. We didn't do ourselves any favors with our shooting. We had opportunities but couldn't make the shot, get a stop and get over the hump in the second half. We knew the key was going to be stopping their back doors but they killed us with it anyway. Cornell didn't shoot it great either but the points in the paint and off turnovers really hurt us. I like that we kept fighting and scrapping though. We will learn from this and get better."   

Sophomore point guard John McGriff had a strong Bearcats debut with a team-high 16 points in just 21 minutes. McGriff battled through foul trouble the whole game but showed his vast skillset with eight field goals, four assists and speed off the dribble. Juniors Jacob Falko and Bryce Beamer added 13 points apiece with Beamer's points all coming in the second half. 

Beamer hit a 3-pointer with 8:06 remaining that brought the Bearcats to within three, 54-51. But BU could pull no closer, in part because after committing the team's seventh foul with 7:46 left, Cornell built a sizable advantage in free throws. Despite missing 14 at the line, the Big Red still converted 18 free throws, which helped offset BU's edge in field goals. 

Cornell built a 27-17 lead halfway through the first half before five different players keyed a 13-6 run that brought the Bearcats to within three, 33-30 with 4:37 left. The teams didn't score over the final 3:17 of the half and Cornell took a 37-32 lead into intermission. During that scoreless stretch, however, McGriff picked up his third foul, which wound up limiting his floor time to just 11 minutes in the second half.   

Junior forward George Tinsley had eight points and classmate Ogheneyole Akuwovo pulled down eight rebounds as BU used a 10-man lineup in the opener. 

The Bearcats now begin a stretch of three straight and five of six on the road. Binghamton next heads to Fairfield, Conn. for a Sunday afternoon tilt at Sacred Heart.