VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton men's basketball (7-8, 4-2 America East) begins a key home-and-home series with defending conference champion Hartford (3-11, 1-1 AE) when the two teams clash Monday night at the Events Center. After tonight's 7:30 p.m. game, the teams head to West Hartford for Wednesday's return game. 

On the strength of a 3-0 road record in America East play, BU sits in third place in the standings and owns its best start to conference play in 13 seasons. The Bearcats are coming off a 68-57 win at NJIT on Saturday. 

Junior Jacob Falko leads three double-digit scorers with a 12.2 average. Junior Tyler Bertram (10.5) and sophomore John McGriff (10.5) and classmate Christian Hinckson leads the team on the glass with 6.3 boards. 

QUICK HITS
• This is Binghamton's 76th season of basketball, 21st in the America East
• The 2021-22 season marks the NCAA coaching debut of Levell Sanders, who was elevated to the head coach position in March after two seasons as an assistant coach. Sanders previously coached five years in the Czech Republic after a 17-year pro career overseas
• This is the second of a 3-games-in-5-days stretch for the Bearcats
• BU faces Hartford in back-to-back games due to the scheduled Jan. 12 game being postponed when the Hawks were in COVID protocols  

About Binghamton
• Jacob Falko scored a game-high 20 points (14 in 2nd half) and Christian Hinckson notched a second-straight double-double (15 pts., 10 rebs) to lift visiting BU over NJIT  68-57 Saturday night in Newark
• Bearcats hit 9-of-12 to open the second half, shot 56% and put 39 points on the board to rally past the Highlanders
• BU improved to 3-0 in AE road games and moved into third place in standings with the team's best 6-game start in 13 years

About Hartford
• Remain a bit of a mystery after May announcement that athletics program will leave the America East and transition down to NCAA Division III by fall 2023
• Went 2-10 in non-conference play but faced tough schedule with five opponents who were picked to win their respective leagues
• Were idle 28 days with COVID protocols before becoming the last AE team to begin its conference slate last Wednesday against UNH
• Defeated visiting UNH 69-57, thanks to 52% shooting and 12 3-pointers
• Return nine lettermen and four starters from NCAA team of 2020-21
• Boast two all-conference picks in Traci Carter and Austin Williams
• Coming off 82-72 loss to Vermont Saturday in Burlington

All-time series vs. Hartford
• The Hawks own a commanding 30-13 lead in the all-time series
• The series has been tighter in Vestal, where Hartford leads 12-7
• Hartford has won 10 consecutive head-to-head games and only three of those have been single-digit affairs (UH scoring 80.0 ppg. during the streak)
• The Hawks won all three meetings last season, Jan. 2 (76-56) and Jan. 3 (77-74) in the regular season and again on Feb. 27 (77-60) in the AE tournament first round — all played in West Hartford
• The last BU win was 76-55 five years ago at home on Jan. 25, 2017

A win over Hartford would ...
• Give BU five conference wins, tied for the most in the last 12 years (with 11 games still left)
• Move BU 3 games over .500 in conference play for first time since 2009-10
• Give BU six wins in their last eight games
• Even its overall record at 8-8 – latest team has been at or above .500 mark in 13 years
• Snap 10-game losing streak against Hawks

Falko Introducing himself to America East
Junior guard Jacob Falko has made a strong debut in the America East after transferring to Binghamton from Big South member Gardner-Webb (N.C.). In six conference games, Falko is averaging a league-high 19.0 points on 59 percent shooting (67% inside the arc). He has four 20+ point performances and is combining a scoring prowess with team play. Falko is third in the conference with 4.3 assists per game in league play. He ranks fifth in free throw shooting (86%) and sixth in field goal percentage against conference foes.  

Hinckson filling up stat sheet
Junior forward Christian Hinckson continues to maximize his minutes as a 34+ minutes a game starter. In six conference games, Hinckson is averaging 11.7 points and a league-best 9.2 rebounds. He has produced back-to-back double-doubles and has three for the season. With his 10th rebound at NJIT on Saturday, Hinckson reached the 400-rebound mark for his collegiate career. Back in December, he reached the 400-point mark. In America East play, Hinckson ranks first in rebounds, third in blocks (1.7/game) and fourth in field goal percentage (60%).

McGriff stepping up in America East play
Sophomore guard John McGriff has raised his game in conference play. In his last three outings, McGriff is averaging 13.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists. He has double-digit points in three straight games and seven on the season.  

Bearcats Among Stat Leaders
Six games into conference play, BU ranks among the league's top-3 in a handful of categories. Binghamton is second in field goal percentage defense (42%) and 3-point defense (29%). The Bearcats rank third in scoring (70.7), shooting (46.2%), rebound margin (+0.7), blocks (3.8/game) and assists (12.2/game).