VESTAL, N.Y. - League-leading Vermont (23-5, 15-1 America East) built a 20-point halftime lead and held off Binghamton men's basketball (11-14, 8-8 AE) 66-49 Wednesday night at Dr. Bai Lee Court at the Events Center.

Binghamton limited the Catamounts to 38 percent shooting and held UVM 16 points under its scoring average but couldn't recover from a 17-point first half. The loss, coupled with other results from Wednesday night, dropped BU into a tie for fourth place in the crowded standings with two regular season games remaining, though the Bearcats are just one game out of second. 

The Bearcats gave up a decisive 22-3 Vermont run spanning eight minutes midway through the first half and never recovered. Ten minutes in, BU was within three, 15-12, before a dry spell of one field goal in 10+ minutes proved costly. Binghamton made just seven field goals in the half, turned the ball over 11 times and lost leading scorer Jacob Falko to an injury during the run. Falko didn't return to the game. 

Sophomore guard John McGriff led BU with 16 points and eight rebounds. McGriff scored 12 in the second half. Junior forward Christian Hinckson added 11 points, six boards, three blocks and three steals. 

Binghamton outscored the Catamounts 32-29 in the second half but couldn't bring it back to single digits. Five minutes into the second half, BU trailed 48-25 before mounting a rally. A 14-2 run featured five points from Hinckson and four from junior forward Bryce Beamer and it brought the Bearcats to within 11, 50-39, with 9:26 left. But an ensuing 7-0 Catamounts run closed the door on a comeback bid. Aside from Falko's absence, BU was saddled with foul trouble throughout and wound up with 20 fouls, including a pair of foul-outs. 

"We were soft in the first half and provided no resistance," head coach Levell Sanders said. "We looked scared and let them push us around. In the second half it was about having pride and competing. We battled back but you almost have to play perfect to come back against a team like Vermont. They punish every mistake you make offensively and defensively. With Vermont, we saw firsthand what it looks like to be a really good team on both sides of the ball. We're making progress but still have a long way to go."

Binghamton plays its final two regular season games on the road, where the team is 5-2 against America East opponents. First up is a Saturday noon tilt at New Hampshire. 

NOTES
Before the game, BU honored its five seniors: Ogheneyole Akuwovo, Tyler Bertram, Alex Brodsky, Christian Hinckson and Yarden Willis.