VESTAL, N.Y. - Visiting Longwood (5-0) closed the game with a 15-9 run to defeat Binghamton men's basketball (2-4) 66-60 Tuesday night at Dr. Bai Lee Court at the Events Center.

The reigning Big South Conference champions led for only 10 minutes and shot just 32 percent, but ended the game strong to offset Binghamton's edge in most statistical categories.

The Bearcats trailed 59-56 with under one minute to play before sophomore forward Gavin Walsh made a strong drive to the basket to trim the margin to one, 59-58 with 0:52 left. But Longwood hit a dagger on its next possession with a 3-pointer from leading scorer KJ McClurg (20 pts.). Down four, Binghamton missed a pair of 3-point attempts on its next possession and the Lancers sealed the game with four free throws in the final 17 seconds.  

The Bearcats shot 60 percent in the first half and led 35-33 at intermission. Binghamton then extended that lead to seven, 45-38, with less than 15 minutes remaining before the Lancers began to exert a physical advantage to the tune of 26 rebounds (12 offensive). Longwood's big margin on the glass turned into 13 more shots. The Bearcats also hurt their cause by leaving eight points at the free throw line.

"It was a hard-fought game," head coach Levell Sanders said. "They are a really good offensive rebounding team ... when you give a team 20 offensive rebounds, those second-chance points come back to hurt you. We knew it was going to be a battle because they are a physical team. We didn't go a good job of playing without fouling and they punished us when we put them on the line. But I like the way we came out and fought ... and we played hard for most of the game. This was a good team for us to play ...I have a lot of respect for their coach ... we don't usually get an opportunity to play teams like this at home so I appreciate them coming here."

Graduate forward Ben Callahan-Gold led the Bearcats with 15 points on 5-for-12 shooting from 3-point range. Graduate guard Tymu Chenery tallied 14 points, six rebounds and four blocks and Walsh earned his fourth straight double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. He is one short of tying the program record of five, set by Mahamoud Jabbi in 2010-11.   

Chenery had 12 of his points in the first half, when the Bearcats hit 15-of-25 shots (60%) for their best shooting half of the season. 

Binghamton next travels to New Britain, Conn. to face Central Connecticut State Sunday afternoon.