BOSTON, Mass. – Host Boston University scored eight straight points in the closing 1:15 and the Terriers (7-3) held off Binghamton men's basketball (2-5) 68-63 in a matchup of former America East foes Saturday afternoon at Case Gymnasium.

A 3-pointer from the top of the key by junior guard Hakon Hjalmarsson pulled the Bearcats even at 60-60 with 1:43 left. It capped a second-half rally from nine points down for Binghamton. But the Terriers scored four of their final eight points from the line, where they converted 20-of-24 in the second half.  

Hjalmarsson scored a season-high 18 points (4-of-6 3-pt.) to lead three Bearcats in double figures. Juniors Tyler Bertram and Dan Petcash added 14 and 11 points, respectively.

"This was a Boston team that has a good chance to win its league and get to NCAAs so I'm happy with the way we fought today," head coach Levell Sanders said. "Defensively we wanted to hold them under 69 and we did that. Unfortunately we didn't quite have enough. But we will keep working and improving."

Binghamton led 30-27 at the break but misfired on 9-of-10 to start the second half and the Terriers capitalized with a 16-4 run.

Bertram keyed Binghamton's rally in the closing minutes. The Bearcats trailed by seven with just over seven minutes to go before he sparked a late run by scoring nine points in a 7:47 span. Junior Jacob Falko had a pair of strong driving layups to aid the surge.  

Petcash and Hjalmarsson combined for 19 first-half points as the Bearcats took a three-point edge into the locker room. Petcash tallied nine points in the game's first 10 minutes on 4-of-4 shooting. Hjalmarsson knocked down a pair of 3-pointers in the final 2:50, including one with two seconds left to provide the halftime edge. The Bearcats climbed out of an early hole after being whistled for four fouls in the game's first 2:20. The half featured four ties and six lead changes.

The Bearcats played without two of their top four scorers as John McGriff (11.2 ppg.) and Kellen Amos (10.0 ppg.) didn't travel due to non-COVID illnesses.

Binghamton now returns home for five straight games at the Events Center beginning with a Wednesday tilt against Marist.