VESTAL, N.Y. - Visiting Albany (11-15, 7-7 America East) closed the game with a 9-0 run to rally past Binghamton men's basketball (10-13, 7-7 AE) 68-67 Wednesday night in front of a season-high 3,835 fans at Dr. Bai Lee Court at the Events Center. 

The Bearcats were in control, up 67-59 with 2:40 to play before faltering down the stretch. Binghamton missed its only shot attempt in the closing 2:12 and turned the ball over four times, including twice in the final 37 seconds while seeking a game-winning shot. The Great Danes made a layup, five free throws and then used a dagger 3-pointer with 0:46 left for the deciding points.

"We aren't doing the things we need to do consistently to win ball games right now," head coach Levell Sanders said. "We have to get better offensively with ball movement. Albany came in and played a good game and deserved to win."

The result moves Binghamton and Albany into a four-way tie for third place in the standings, along with UNH (7-7) and Hartford (6-6). UMBC (8-6) sits one game ahead in second place. The top four teams earn a home quarterfinal game on March 6. Binghamton has already clinched a top-8 playoff spot.  

Junior Tyler Bertram scored a game-high 21 points - 15 of which came in the second half. Bertram hit 5-of-7 from 3-point range and added 6-of-6 free throws. It was Bertram's third game this season with 20 or more points and BU's 12th game with a 20+ point scorer. Sophomore guard John McGriff scored all 13 of his points in the first half and junior Dan Petcash added 10 points.   

The Bearcats hit 8-of-9 to start the game and shot 61 percent in the first half but had to settle for a 33-29 halftime edge.

The teams traded buckets during the early stages of the second half and it was tied 52-52 with 8:35 to play before Bertram took charge. He converted four free throws after a foul and ensuing Albany technical foul, giving BU a 56-52 lead with 8:17 left. Bertram then cashed in a 3-ball with 5:39 left that pushed BU's lead up to five, 62-57. Two more free throws from Bertram and an inside bucket from Ogheneyole Akuwovo gave the Bearcats a 67-59 cushion with three minutes remaining. But the offense stalled with five straight empty possessions, which fueled Albany's deciding late run.   

The game featured seven ties and 15 lead changes, but the Bearcats held the lead for nearly 27 minutes and shot 51 percent for the game - the first time this season they have shot better than 50 percent and lost. 

The Bearcats now play three of their remaining four games on the road and the lone home game is a daunting one against a Vermont team that has already clinched the regular season title. Up next is a road game Saturday at UMass Lowell.