VESTAL, N.Y. - With considerable momentum after a strong second-half comeback on Monday, Binghamton men's basketball (8-8, 5-2 America East) meets reigning conference champion Hartford (3-12, 1-2 AE) for the second time in 72 hours when the Bearcats and Hawks clash at Chase Arena in West Hartford Wednesday night. The game will be played in front of an empty arena (COVID measures) but broadcast on ESPN+ beginning at 7 p.m.

The Bearcats are riding high with their best conference record in 13 years and have a chance to sweep the season series from Hartford for the first time since 2008-09. That's possible because of a ferocious BU comeback at the Events Center Monday night. Down 19 points to Hartford in the first half and down 11 early in the second, Binghamton embarked on a 25-1 run that featured a stifling defense and big doses of Jacob Falko (game-high 22 pts., 16 in second half) and Christian Hinckson (career-high 20 pts., 9 rebs.).   

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
• BU faces Hartford in back-to-back games due to the scheduled Jan. 12 game being postponed when the Hawks were in COVID protocols
• BU is 3-0 in America East road games  

About Binghamton
• Jacob Falko (22 pts.) and Christian Hinckson (20) keyed a 25-1 second-half run and BU held Hartford without a field goal for more than eight minutes in a 74-64 home win Monday night
• BU trailed by as many as 19 points (first half) before rallying
• Hinckson added nine rebounds and John McGriff chipped in 11 pts., 5 rebs.
• The win was BU's 5th in AE play - most in 13 years (with 11 games still left)
• BU has won six of its last eight to get to .500 mark overall (8-8)

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
• Return nine lettermen and four starters from NCAA team of 2020-21
• Boast two all-conference picks in Traci Carter and Austin Williams
• On Monday built 19-point halftime lead but shot under 30% in second half and went scoreless for 7+ minutes in 74-64 loss in Vestal
• Williams (16 pts.) and Moses Flowers (10 pts., 10 rebs.) paced team

All-time series vs. Hartford
• The Hawks own a commanding 30-14 lead in the all-time series
• At Chase Arena, Hartford leads 17-5
• On Monday BU snapped Hartford's 10-game win streak in the series
• 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 at Chase was 68-54 on Feb. 11, 2016 (six years ago)

A win over Hartford would ...
• Give BU six conference wins, the most the program has had since going 8-8 in 2009-10 (12 years ago)
• Give BU a season sweep of Hartford for first time since 2008-09 (13 yrs)
• Move BU 4 games over .500 in conference play for first time since 2008-09
• Give BU seven wins in their last nine games
• Life the team's overall record over the .500 mark in late January for the first time since the championship season in 2008-09 (23-9)

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 seven conference games, Falko is averaging a league-high 19.4 points on 56 percent shooting (65% inside the arc). He has five 20+ point performances (in seven games) and also ranks second in the conference in assists (4.4/game) and fifth in both field goal percentage and free throw shooting (87%).  

Hinckson filling up stat sheet
Junior forward Christian Hinckson has become a key contributor since moving into the starting lineup. In seven conference games, Hinckson is averaging 12.9 points and a league-best 9.1 rebounds. He has produced three double-doubles and is coming off a career-high 20 points in Monday's win over Hartford. In the last three games, Hinckson is averaging 16.3 points and 10.0 rebounds. He ranks first in the America East in rebounds, second in blocks (1.6/game) and fourth in field goal percentage (59%).

McGriff stepping up in America East play
Sophomore guard John McGriff has raised his game in conference play. In his last four outings, McGriff is averaging 12.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists. He has double-digit points in four straight games and eight on the season.
 
Bearcats Among Stat Leaders
Seven games into conference play, BU ranks among the league's top-3 in a handful of categories. Binghamton leads the league in rebounds (36.9/game), is second in field goal percentage defense (42%) and 3-point defense (30%). The Bearcats rank third in scoring (71.1), shooting (46.%) and blocks (4.8/game).