VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton men's basketball (4-9) closes out the non-conference portion of its schedule Thursday night at high-octane Cornell (9-4). The teams tip at 7 p.m. at Newman Arena.

After a week off for the holidays, BU braces for a tough two-game road trip that includes its final non-conference game and its first America East game (Saturday at Bryant). Both opponents are averaging more than 84 points on offense. 

The Bearcats are led by senior guard Jacob Falko, who ranks third in the conference in scoring (15.8 ppg.). Falko erupted for a career-high 36 points in BU's last game - a six-point loss at Niagara. Junior guard John McGriff (10.3 ppg.) is also in double figures. Junior forward Armon Harried leads the team on the glass (6.3 rpg.). 

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
• This is the second of three straight road games to wrap up the calendar year
• This is BU's final non-conference game of the season
• 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 seven-day holiday break
• Last played on Dec. 21 — 73-67 loss at Niagara
• Jacob Falko poured in career-high 36 points (28 in 2nd half)
• Trailed entire game and by as many as 16 pts. in second half
• Cut deficit to two with five minutes left before Niagara used 11-2 run and 16-of-18 FT in final 3:17 to seal it
• BU shot 60 percent in second half but had no other double-digit scorers besides Falko (Armon Harried with eight points)
• Played without starting point guard and No. 2 scorer John McGriff (10.3 ppg.)

About Cornell
• Coming off 91-80 win at Colgate last Thursday (Dec. 22)
• Shot 59%, hit 12 3s and led by 17 points at half
• Have scored 90 or more points in three of last four games
• Won seven straight games in Nov.-Dec.
• Have played strong non-conference schedule that featured three games against ACC foes BC, Miami and Syracuse (two losses by just two points plus were tied at half at SU)
• Among nation's leaders in points (11th) and made 3s (2nd, 12.3/game)
• Leads Ivy League in scoring (84.7), 3-pointers and 3-pt.% (37%)  
 
All-time series vs. Cornell
• Cornell has won four straight head-to-head and leads 12-4
• Last year Cornell made 32 FTs (28 in 2nd half) and won 76-69 in Vestal
• John McGriff (16) and Jacob Falko combined for 29 points in the loss
• Cornell is 9-1 vs. BU at Newman Arena
• BU's last win in the series was a 68-62 victory Nov. 11, 2016 in Vestal
• BU's lone road win was 89-79 on Nov. 13, 2013
• BU is 7-19 vs. Ivy League (including an 81-79 win over Columbia)  
     
Falko explodes for career-high 36 points at Niagara
Senior guard Jacob Falko poured in 36 points to nearly lift BU to a comeback win at Niagara on Dec. 21. He scored 28 of those points in the second half, including 11 points in the final 1:08. Falko hit 12-of-16 from the floor after intermission, including 4-of-4 from beyond the arc. He drilled three 3-pointers in the final 28 seconds to keep the outcome in doubt. The 36-point showing broke Falko's previous career-high of 29, set at Stony Brook last February 2. It was the 10th 20+ point game of Falko's two-year BU career and it is the highest BU individual point total since Sam Sessoms tallied 38 against UNH on Feb. 29, 2020. Falko's 36 points are the most any America East player has scored this season.

Lineup options
Binghamton entered the season with its deepest roster in many years and the split of playing time is evidence. The team has 11 players averaging double-digit minutes and nine different players have been in the starting lineup. Only one player (Jacob Falko) is averaging more than 28 minutes.

Over at the half?
The first half remains the most prominent indicator of BU's fortunes early this season. When leading at the half the Bearcats are 4-0. When trailing, they are 0-8.  

Bearcats getting familiar with close games
Four of BU's first 10 games (against Division I opponents) this season have been decided by three or fewer points and the Bearcats are 2-2 in those games. Binghamton played just seven games all last season that were decided by that narrow margin and were 1-3 with the one win coming in the America East tournament (72-69 over UNH).  

70 remains tipping "point"
The 70-point scoring mark remains a key indicator for Binghamton's success. Early this season, BU is 4-0 when they score more than 70 and 0-7 when they are at or below 70. Last season, BU was 8-2 when they reached 70 points and 3-15 when they came in under 70.  

Second-half surge
Binghamton is minus 45 in first-half season scoring but is plus 10 in the second half. On Dec. 21 at Niagara, BU scored a season-high 45 points in the second half. It was the fourth time this season the Bearcats have tallied at least 40 in the second half.