VESTAL, N.Y. - Coming off a near-upset of Northwestern on Monday, Binghamton men's basketball braces for another Power 5 opponent when the Bearcats (0-1) meet ACC member Pitt (1-0) Friday night on the road. The teams tip at 7 p.m. at the Petersen Events Center in a game broadcast on ESPN+.

The Bearcats put a scare into the Big Ten Wildcats in the season-opener on Monday in Evanston, Ill., holding the lead for 23 minutes, including much of the second half. Binghamton was up by as many as 11 points and was within four until game's final 2:11. The Bearcats put five players in double figures and equaled Northwestern in shooting (42%) but NU gained the deciding margin at free throw line (17-of-21). 

About Binghamton 

• Picked to finish fourth in Coaches' Preseason Poll for second straight year, matching highest predicted finish in 23 years of America East membership
• Have to replace two-time all-conference guard and leading scorer Jacob Falko (14.0 ppg last season)
• Lose two of the top-3 scorers and rebounders
• Return two starters in Armon Harried (11.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg., All-Defensive Team) and Dan Petcash (40% 3-pt.)
• Have nine newcomers: four freshmen and five transfers
• Highlight transfer is Syracuse graduate guard Symir Torrence, who played two seasons at Marquette and two at Syracuse, located 80 miles north of Binghamton
• Binghamton is one of just two America East programs (Vermont) to reach the conference tournament semifinals in each of the last two seasons
• Last year Binghamton enjoyed its highest conference win percentage (8-8, .500) in 13 years

About Pitt

• Trounced NC A&T 100-52 in season opener Monday
• Freshman Carlton Carrington recorded a triple-double with 18 pts., 12 rebs. and 10 assists
• Pitt built a 50-15 halftime lead and cruised
• Return two starters and four lettermen from a 24-win team that placed third in ACC and won two NCAA tournament games
• Led by senior forward and Preseason All-ACC 2nd team pick Blake Hinson (15.3 ppg., 6.0 rpg.)
• Picked to finish 9th of 15 in ACC (ahead of SU & 5 others)
• Have sophomore twin brothers Guillermo (7-feet) and Jorge (6-11) in frontcourt 
• Replenished in transfer portal with Zack Austin (14.2 ppg. at High Point) and Ishmael Leggett (16.4 ppg. at Rhode Island)

All-Time Series vs. Pitt 
Pitt leads 2-0 - 71-46 in 2009 and 79-53 in 2019. In last matchup four years ago at the Petersen Events Center, Pitt (9-3) overcame a slow start, forced 27 turnovers and ran past visiting BU. The Bearcats led 9-5 six minutes in before Pitt used a commanding 35-9 run over 13 minutes to build a 41-21 halftime cushion. In the second half, BU scored seven of the first nine points and used a 14-8 run to bring the margin back to 14 points (49-35 with 14:04 left). But the Panthers reeled off a 16-0 run to put the game out of reach. Sophomore guard Sam Sessoms scored 13 of BU's first-half points and wound up with a game-high 23.  

Bearcats push Northwestern to wire 
Binghamton played one of its best games in program history against a Power 5 opponent on Monday and extended its upset bid to the final two minutes before falling 72-61. The Bearcats put five players in double figures, led by as many as 11 points and didn't relinquish its lead until there were less than 11 minutes remaining. BU kept within striking distance until NU tacked on late free throws in the final 48 seconds. Senior guard Tymu Chenery led BU with 13 points in 25 minutes before fouling out. He was plus 13 while on the floor — the second-best plus/minus of anyone who played for either team. Graduate point guard Symir Torrence added 12 points, six assists and three blocks in a full 40 minutes.

Northwestern Head Coach Collins impressed with Binghamton 
"We had our hands full tonight. I knew this was going to be a difficult challenge after watching them on film. They are veterans and athletes and I knew they would play freely. Because we couldn't get stops, they got a lot of confidence. And you come to halftime and you know you are in for a dog fight. Give Binghamton a lot of credit. Levell should be proud of his team … they fought their tails off tonight. In the first half they really had us on our heels. They were getting the ball out fast and were pushing the ball. They were getting quick drives, getting to the basket and making 3s. They were able to exploit us with spacing and driving kicks. The game was going too fast for us … they got after us with their physicality and quickness and that didn't play into our hands."  

Binghamton vs. ACC, Power Five programs 
The Bearcats are 1-8 all-time against the ACC with the lone win coming at Miami on Dec. 20, 2006 (79-74). The losses have come against Pitt (0-2), Duke (NCAA tournament), Florida State, North Carolina, Syracuse, Notre Dame and Boston College. The Bearcats are 1-20 all-time vs. Power 5 member teams (1-8 ACC, 0-8 Big Ten, 0-4 Big 12). 

Homecoming for Petcash
Graduate forward Dan Petcash (Pittsburgh, Pa./Pine-Richland HS) returns home and will have friends and family in attendance. Petcash played in the Petersen Events Center with the Bearcats in 2019 (5 pts. in 13 minutes as freshman) and also played there several times in high school for Pine-Richland, which is now coached by Petcash's father Bob. Dan is Binghamton's all-time 3-point accuracy leader (40%). He was a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Fab 5" selection as a senior after leading the Rams to three sectional titles in four years.  

Harried has played well at Petersen
Graduate forward Armon Harried played at Pitt while at Canisius. Harried tallied 12 points and six rebounds in 30 minutes when the Griffs battled Pitt in an 87-79 loss on Dec. 30, 2019. Harried made 3-of-5 3-pointers. Graduate guard Symir Torrence also played at Petersen Events Center with Syracuse last season. He played four minutes in SU's 99-82 loss to the Panthers.  

Up Next
Binghamton returns home for its home opener Sunday night against Keystone. Tip is at 6:07 p.m. at the Events Center. The Bearcats will play three of their next five games at home.