SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Host Bryant (10-7, 2-0 America East) used a 33-9 first-half run to build a 19-point halftime cushion and the Bulldogs held off hard-charging Binghamton men's basketball (8-6, 0-1 AE) 77-69 in the Bearcats' conference opener Thursday night at Chace Athletic Center.

Down as many as 24 points in the second half, BU used a 20-7 run to get back in the game midway through the final half. Binghamton then scored 15 points in a frantic final two minutes to pull within six points before coming up just short. Bryant made just enough free throws down the stretch  (3-of-6 in final 38 secs) and BU was hurt by its own struggles at the charity stripe in the game (18-of-29 FT).

"We couldn't stop them in transition and they took advantage of our turnovers in the first half," head coach Levell Sanders said. "We shot ourselves in the foot and just didn't execute enough down the stretch, including at the free throw line. But we still battled to the end. We have to put this behind us and get ready for Albany."

Graduate guard Dan Petcash drilled a 3-pointer – BU's first of the game – to cut the deficit to 11 with 4:13 remaining. Then a 3-pointer from senior forward Nehemiah Benson trimmed the margin to just eight, 71-63 with 41 seconds left. Another three from sophomore forward Chris Walker made it a seven point game, 73-66, with 18 seconds left. Benson cashed in three free throws with five seconds left to close out BU's total.

After BU led 8-4 four minutes in, Bryant began their big run, which spanned the middle 13 minutes of the period. The Bulldogs hit five 3-pointers and capitalized on nine Bearcat turnovers to fuel the run.

Benson tallied a career-high 21 points with eight rebounds in 17 foul-plagued minutes. He hit 7-of-10 shots and scored 14 of his points in the second half, sparking BU's comeback bid. Senior guard Tymu Chenery added 16 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. It was Chenery's second double-double of the season. Down 56-32 with 15:15 left, Chenery sparked the initial 20-7 BU run with seven points in a 52-second span. Graduate forward Armon Harried chipped in 10 points and eight boards.

Binghamton finishes up its two-game road trip Saturday afternoon at UAlbany.