VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton men's basketball plays its second of five straight at home when the Bearcats (2-6) host familiar regional opponent SUNY Oneonta (6-2) Saturday afternoon at the Events Center. The two longtime SUNY foes tip at 2 p.m. in a game shown on ESPN3. At halftime, BU will recognize its Hall of Fame Induction Class of 2020 and Class of 2021 at center court. The two classes will be formally enshrined at a ceremony following the game. 

After Saturday's game, BU will take a 10-day break for final exams and resume game action on Dec. 21 when Niagara comes to town. The America East opener (Jan. 2 vs. UMass Lowell) is just three weeks away. 

Junior guard Tyler Bertram (10.8 ppg.) continues to lead the team in scoring, followed by sophomore point guard John McGriff (10.6 ppg.). Junior center Ogheneyole Akuwovo is averaging 7.3 points and a team-best 5.3 rebounds. 

About Binghamton
• Have dropped three straight during which offense has been held to 57 ppg.
• On Wednesday lost 64-51 to visiting Marist after being tied 24-24 at half
• Juniors Ogheneyole Akuwovo and Christian Hinckson had identical 10-point, 9-rebound performances
• The Bearcats committed 18 turnovers and gave up 34 points in the paint
• Outrebounded Marist 48-32 with school-record 22 offensive boards  

About Oneonta
• This will be an exhibition game for the Red Dragons, members of the NCAA Division III SUNYAC conference
• Are 6-2 overall, 2-1 in conference play
• Coming off 85-81 overtime win at Potsdam last Saturday
• Return four players from 19-8 team of 2019-20 (didn't compete last winter)
• Lead SUNYAC in both offense (84.5 ppg.) and defense (74.8 ppg.)
• Leading scorer Frankie Williams (17.8 ppg.) is shooting 51% from field
• Second-year guard Michael Ortale, Jr. is averaging a double-double with 16.8 points and team-best 10.0 rebounds
• Defeated common opponent Hartwick 105-76 on Nov. 9 - three weeks before the Bearcats rolled to a similarly lopsided 110-41 win

All-time series vs. Oneonta
• The teams played 74 times in 47 years between 1950 and 1997 when both were Division III members
• Oneonta holds a 45-30 cushion head-to-head
• In the last matchup on Nov. 26, 2019, BU posted a 90-69 home win
• In that game two years ago, BU opened up a 24-point halftime bulge before Oneonta trimmed it with a strong second half. Binghamton used a 23-0 run midway through the period to turn a 30-27 edge into a 53-27 cushion late in the half. In the second half, Oneonta cut its deficit from 31 points down to just 10, 71-61, with 4:28 left. But the Bearcats finished with a 19-8 run.
• Binghamton has won the last four matchups
   
70 is magic number
When the Bearcats score 70 or more points, they are 2-1 this season. When they don't reach 70, they are 0-5. When opponents reach 70, Binghamton is 0-4.

Akuwovo tops team in season plus/minus ratings
Junior center Ogheneyole Akuwovo has the best plus/minus rating on the Bearcats with a +10 mark (not including the team's game against Division III Hartwick). Akuwovo was +13 against Columbia for his best single game.

Injuries, illness starting to become a story line
The Bearcats have played without at least one injured or ill starter in seven of its eight games this season, resulting in four different starting lineups. Starting guard Dan Petcash (11.3 ppg.) missed the first four games with an injury and starting point guard John McGriff (11.2 ppg.) and starting center Ogheneyole Akuwovo (6.8 ppg., 4.8 rpg.) have each missed a recent game with illness. Further, Petcash went down with an injury at the end of the Boston game and is out of the lineup.

BU pulls down record rebounds but comes up short in 2nd half vs. Marist
On Wednesday, BU put two in double figures, pulled down a program-best 22 offensive boards and was +16 on the glass but turnovers (18), 32% shooting and Marist points in the paint (34) were the difference in the 64-51 Binghamton setback.