LOWELL, Mass. – Host UMass Lowell (22-7, 9-5 America East) made 25-of-29 free throws and held off Binghamton men's basketball (12-14, 8-5 AE) 84-70 Saturday afternoon at Costello Athletic Center.

With the loss, BU slipped a half-game behind the River Hawks and into third place with three regular season games remaining. The top four teams earn home playoff games.

The Bearcats were above 50% from the floor until the closing minutes and outshot and outrebounded UMass Lowell, but the whistles and subsequent free throws made the difference for a River Hawks team that improved to 14-0 on its home floor.

Binghamton trailed by six at the break but with starting forwards Armon Harried and Miles Gibson mired in foul trouble throughout, BU played from behind for the entire second half and couldn't mount a rally. Twice the Bearcats pulled their deficit back to six but couldn't draw any closer. The River Hawks repeatedly cashed in at the foul line and made 14-of-17 in the second half to thwart any BU comeback bid.

The Bearcats were called for 23 fouls and also hurt their cause with a season-high 23 turnovers.  

"We have to do a better job of taking care of the ball," head coach Levell Sanders said. "You can't give a team like UMass Lowell that many chances off turnovers and expect to win."

Senior guard Dan Petcash led BU with 21 points (4-for-7 3-pointers). Joining Petcash in double figures were Harried (14 pts. in 19 minutes), senior guard Jacob Falko (13 pts., 6 assists) and graduate center Ogheneyole Akuwovo (10 pts.).

Binghamton's final road game won't be any easier as the Bearcats have to travel to Burlington to face first-place Vermont on Wednesday.