VESTAL, N.Y. - Graduate forward Miles Gibson led five in double figures with a season-high 21 points and surging Binghamton men's basketball (12-13, 8-4 America East) handled visiting NJIT (7-18, 4-8 AE) 86-67 Wednesday night at Dr. Bai Lee Court at the Events Center. 

The win, BU's third in a row and eighth in its last 11, kept the Bearcats in sole possession of second place in the America East standings with four games remaining in the regular season.

Binghamton trailed 16-13 nine minutes into the game before back-to-back 3-pointers from Gibson and senior guard Jacob Falko sparked the offense. A 15-5 run late in the half pushed BU's lead to double figures and fueled by Falko's 12 points, the Bearcats settled on a 42-33 margin at half. 

In the second half, BU shot 58 percent and didn't let the Highlanders draw closer than five. A 12-4 run midway through the period featured six points from Gibson (who had 13 pts. in the second half) and stretched the Bearcats' lead to as many as 21 points. 

Gibson made 10-of-17 shots and added seven rebounds in a full 40-minute game. Falko netted 17 points and added a career-high nine assists. Senior guard Dan Petcash (13 pts.), junior forward Armon Harried (12 pts., 9 rebs.) and senior center Taveion White (10 pts.) rounded out the offense. 

Binghamton produced a season-high 22 assists and was plus 15 on the glass.

"I love how we shared the ball tonight," head coach Levell Sanders said. "The way they play the pick-and-roll coverage, they allow you to roll and passes are open but we have to make good passes. I thought we did a good job of that tonight. We have to keep that up."

Binghamton next begins a tough two-game stretch with road games at UMass Lowell (21-7, 8-5 AE) on Saturday and at league-leading Vermont (16-10, 10-2 AE) next Wednesday.