VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton men's basketball begins a stretch of five-out-of-six at home when the Bearcats (2-1) host Sacred Heart (2-2) Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. at Dr. Bai Lee Court at the Events Center and the game will be broadcast on ESPN3.

The Bearcats will welcome a return to Mid-Major opponents after Tuesday's 76-52 loss at Big Ten member Maryland. Binghamton has three players scoring in double figures, led by graduate forward Miles Gibson (12.3 ppg.). The Bearcats are shooting 44 percent from the floor and are averaging 72.3 points. 

Sacred Heart plays out of the Northeast Conference, where they were picked to finish second this season. The Pioneers are playing back-to-back games against America East members, having lost 90-81 at UMass Lowell on Wednesday. 

QUICK HITS
• This is Binghamton's 77th season of basketball, 22nd in D-I and the America East
• The Bearcats were picked to finish fourth of nine in the AE Coaches' Preseason Poll — tied for the highest in the program's 22 years of conference membership
• Today's game begins a run of 5-of-6 at home for the Bearcats
• BU returns four starters but only 61% of scoring and 63% of minutes (8 departures)
• BU has the third-oldest roster in the country with an average age of 22.0 years

About Binghamton
• Coming off 76-52 road loss at Big Ten member Maryland on Tuesday
• Surrendered a 31-8 run to start the game and couldn't recover
• Committed eight turnovers in first seven minutes
• John McGriff led BU with 12 points (10 in first half)
• BU was outscored by just three (32-29) in second half
   
About Sacred Heart
• Have alternated wins and losses through first four games
• Coming off 90-81 road loss to AE foe UMass Lowell on Wednesday
• Have wins over Hartford and Columbia and loss at Rutgers (88-50)
• Averaging 74 ppg. but giving up 83 ppg.
• Six players averaging double-digits
• Picked to finish second in Northeast Conference Preseason Poll
• Went 10-20 (6-12 NEC) last season
 
All-time series vs. Sacred Heart
• Binghamton leads 5-1 and has won the last four head-to-head
• BU posted 72-60 win last November in Fairfield
• In that game, Kellen Amos poured in a career-high 26 points and it was the first NCAA victory for head coach Levell Sanders. With Amos leading the way, BU exploded on a 28-6 run that spanned 7+ minutes midway through the second half. The surge turned a 42-41 deficit into a 69-48 cushion with 5:30 left.
• The last time the teams met in Vestal was Nov. 16, 2019 (76-72 BU win)
• The last four meetings have decided by an average of six points
     
Rough sledding at Big Ten member Maryland
The Bearcats fell to 0-7 all-time against B1G teams after losing 76-52 at Maryland Tuesday night in College Park. Junior guard John McGriff tallied 12 points but BU fell behind 31-8 to open the game and couldn't recover, despite playing the Terps near-even over the game's final 20 minutes (32-29). Fifteen turnovers (eight in first seven minutes) and 4-for-21 shooting from beyond the arc stifled any opportunity for an upset.  

Bearcats grind out road win at Marist
The Bearcats earned a quality road win on Nov. 12, 78-75 over Marist. Jacob Falko and Miles Gibson scored 19 points apiece and the Bearcats used a 22-9 second-half run to forge a double-digit lead. Binghamton then hung on in a frantic finish as the Red Foxes trimmed a 12-point deficit to five in the closing minutes. But BU made eight free throws in the last 1:08 to seal the win. Dan Petcash hit a crucial 17-foot jumper with 1:34 left to extend BU's lead to seven, 72-65. Petcash again responded with 0:27 left after Marist again pulled to within five. He secured a defensive rebound, was fouled and made both free throws to put BU up 76-69. Two late Marist 3s in the closing five seconds tightened the final score. Falko and Gibson scored 26 of their combined 38 points in the second half. Falko added six rebounds and three assists. Petcash wound up with 11 points and eight rebounds.
 
Falko named to preseason all-conference team
Senior guard Jacob Falko was named to the preseason all-conference team. Falko was an obvious choice to head the team as the only returning all-conference selection from last season. He averaged 15.4 points on 49 percent shooting in conference play and was a first team all-conference choice. Joining Falko on the preseason team were Dylan Penn and Finn Sullivan from reigning champion Vermont, Charles Pride and Earl Timberlake from newcomer Bryant and Max Brooks from UMass Lowell.

Bearcats picked fourth in preseason poll
Binghamton was picked fourth in the America East Coaches' Preseason Poll. Coming off a season that yielded eight conference wins (most in 12 years) and a semifinal appearance, the Bearcats (42 pts.) were slotted behind only Vermont (63), Bryant (58) and UMass Lowell (47) in the nine-team rankings. It equals the highest the team has ever been picked in 22 years of America East membership. Previously, the program was picked fourth in 2005-06, 2007-08 and 2016-17. Behind Binghamton was UMBC (40), Albany (25), New Hampshire (23), NJIT (14) and Maine (12).