VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton men's basketball looks for its fourth win in the last six when the second-place Bearcats (9-10, 6-4 America East) host Maine (4-17, 1-9 AE) Saturday afternoon at the Events Center. The teams will tip at 2 p.m. in a game broadcast on ESPN3.  

The Bearcats are coming off a 77-61 road win over Stony Brook on Wednesday in a game they led for all but 19 seconds. The win was the team's sixth in conference play - most in 12 seasons. With Stony Brook being ineligible for the America East tournament, BU sits in the No. 2 seed slot, only behind league-leading Vermont. 

Binghamton continues to be lifted by the combined play of juniors Jacob Falko and Christian Hinckson. Falko leads the entire America East in both scoring (18.5 ppg.) and assists (4.6/game) in conference play. Hinckson is averaging 11.4 points and 8.0 rebounds (second in AE) and is shooting 57% from the floor. Sophomore John McGriff is chipping in 11.4 points per game.  

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
• There are eight games remaining in the regular season (4 home, 4 away)
• BU has won three of last five to move into #2 seed position for playoffs
• BU has second-most wins to Vermont but logjam of four teams is close behind

About Binghamton
• Coming off statement win — 77-61 over host Stony Brook on Wednesday
• Jacob Falko scored career-high 29 points (19 in second half) with 5 assists
• John McGriff added 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting
• Christian Hinckson just missed a double-double with 9 pts. and 9 rebs.
• Taveion White had strong defensive game with 7 rebounds, block and steal in season-high 34 minutes
• BU led for all but 19 seconds and won for third straight time on Long Island
• Held Stony Brook to 32% FG and 12 points under season scoring average
• Improved to 4-1 in road conference games, which is more wins (4) than any of the last 12 seasons (since going 6-2 in 2008-09)

About Maine
• Have lost four straight and 11 of last 12
• Coming off 62-50 home loss to UMass Lowell on Wednesday
• Are winless on the road this season (0-11)
• Team's lone AE win was 71-64 over visiting UNH on Jan. 24
• Averaging just 60.5 points on offense (last in AE)
• Have had 14 different players in starting lineup this season
• Picked to finish ninth in the America East Preseason Poll, just ahead of BU
• Welcomed nine new players to program after 2020-21 season was cut short in mid-January (2-7 record) due to excessive COVID complications

All-time series vs. Maine
• Maine leads the head-to-head series 21-20
• The Black Bears have won five of the last eight matchups
• The teams didn't play last year after Maine cut its season short
• The series understandably favors the home team (9-hour drive)
• BU is 13-7 at home though Maine won last game, 82-75 on Feb. 8, 2020
• Three weeks ago in Bangor, BU prevailed 73-65 on the strength of 40 combined points from Jacob Falko (22) and John McGriff (18)
• BU was +14 on the glass and held Maine to 35% shooting in second half
   
A win over Maine would ...
• Give BU seven conference wins, the most the program has had since going 8-8 in 2009-10 (12 years ago)
• Maintain the team's hold on the #2 playoff seed in the standings
• Give BU a sweep of the season series for the first time in 13 years (2008-09)
• Move BU three games over .500 in AE action this late in the season for the first time since 2009-10 (6-3)
• Even BU's overall record at 10-10

70 is magic number
When BU scores 70 or more points (in regulation), they are 7-1 this season. When opponents reach 70, BU is 1-7.

Bearcats notch sixth AE win, now eye loftier goals
The road win at Stony Brook gave BU its sixth conference win — the most the program has had in 12 seasons — still with eight games remaining to add to that total. The 2009-10 team went 8-8, following the championship team's 13-3 mark the year before. The Bearcats are setting their sights on a top-4 conference finish, which would deliver a home playoff game to the Events Center for the first time in 13 years (since BU won the AE title on March 14, 2009.

Nine starting lineups
With injuries, COVID and balanced production, BU has utilized nine different starting lineups through its first 19 games. That figure ranks 10th-most across the country.

Bearcats bid adieu to Stony Brook with third straight win on L.I.  
In what looks to be the final America East matchup between the two schools, BU blew past Stony Brook 77-61 Wednesday, hours after the Seawolves learned they would not be eligible for conference postseason with the school's pending move to the Colonial Athletic Association. The Binghamton-Stony Brook series dates back to 1962 but going forward, the programs would have to show interest in a non-conference matchup. The Bearcats close out the America East rivalry with three straight wins at Island Federal Arena.    

Falko making strong case for all-conference  
Junior guard Jacob Falko exploded for a season-high 29 points at Stony Brook (11-for-20 FG) and is putting up big numbers in conference play after transferring to Binghamton from Big South member Gardner-Webb (N.C.). He leads the league in both scoring (18.5 ppg.) and assists (4.6/game) (AE games) and has the most 20+ point performances (6) in the conference. Falko is converting 53% of his shots (third in the AE) and also ranks fourth in free throw percentage (83%).  

Bearcats are cranking out 20-point performances
Binghamton has had 11 instances of a 20+ point performance through its first 19 games. A league-best five different players have reached the plateau, led by junior guard Jacob Falko, who has six, most in the AE. Junior guard Tyler Bertram has done it twice and the others to reach 20 or more points in a game are Kellen Amos, Christian Hinckson and Dan Petcash.

Hinckson filling up stat sheet
Junior forward Christian Hinckson has become a key contributor since moving into the starting lineup. In 10 conference games, Hinckson is averaging 11.4 points and a team-high 8.0 rebounds. He has produced three double-doubles and notched a career-high 20 points in the Jan. 24 win over Hartford. He ranks second in the America East in rebounds and fourth in blocks (1.4/game). Hinckson is shooting 57 percent in league play, including 56% from beyond the arc (15-of-27).

McGriff stepping up in America East play
Sophomore guard John McGriff has raised his game in conference play. In his last seven outings, McGriff is averaging 11.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists. He has double-digit points in six of those seven games and 10 for the season.
 
Bearcats Among Stat Leaders
Into the second half of conference play, BU ranks among the league's top-3 in a handful of categories. Binghamton leads the league in rebounds (38.0/game) and 3-point defense (31%), is second in opponent field goal percentage (41%) and third in scoring (70.3), shooting (45%) and blocks (3.9/game).