CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami (2-0) forged a 21-point halftime lead and defeated visiting Binghamton men's basketball (1-2) 88-64 Sunday afternoon at Watsco Center.

The Hurricanes, picked to finish among the top third in the rugged ACC, made eight 3-pointers in the first half and withstood a Binghamton push early in the second.

Sophomore forward Gavin Walsh scored 14 of his game-high 21 points in the second half. He tallied 10 points in the first 3:37 of the period. Walsh hit 4-of-7 from 3-point range and added 10 rebounds for his second collegiate double-double.

Twice the Bearcats brought their deficit to 14 but could draw no closer. Binghamton played Miami to within three over the final 20 minutes (42-39).

"I thought we showed a little more fight in the second half," head coach Levell Sanders said. "From an offensive standpoint, I thought we took our time more in the second half and ran some offense. We took some better shots and intensity-wise, I thought it was better. They have so many guys who can make shots and spread you out … that's a good team there."

Senior forward Nehemiah Benson was the Bearcats' other double-digit scorer with 12 points.

Binghamton started the game strong, hitting 4-of-6 to take an early 10-4 lead. Graduate guard Tymu Chenery and Walsh scored five points apiece during the opening run, which spanned 3:16. But Miami responded with a 20-2 run to take control. Back-to-back buckets by Benson and Walsh trimmed the deficit to eight, 24-16, with 7:54 left. But the Hurricanes closed the half with a 22-9 run to lead 46-25.  

The Bearcats were looking to replicate the 79-74 upset win over Miami achieved by its 2006-07 team. That victory 18 years ago at the same arena was the program's first against a Power 5 school.  

In a short turnaround postgame, Binghamton takes its second flight in 36 hours and returns to New York in advance of Tuesday night's game at Atlantic 10 member Fordham. The Rams (1-1) just upended Seton Hall 57-56 Saturday afternoon on the road.