VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton men's basketball looks for its fifth consecutive win when the Bearcats (6-6) host Mercyhurst (6-7) to kick off a Wednesday doubleheader at the Events Center. The teams tip at 5 p.m. ahead of the women's basketball tilt between the Bearcats and Syracuse (7:30 p.m.). 

Head coach Levell Sanders' squad plays its final home game before the holidays. After Wednesday, the Bearcats go on the road for back-to-back in-state games at Army (Sunday) and Marist (Dec. 29). 

ABOUT MERCYHURST
•    Sit at 6-7 after 82-57 loss at Kent State on Sunday
•    In first year as a Division I program in Northeast Conference
•    Picked 7th of 9 in NEC Preseason Poll (above St. Francis, Stonehill)
•    Have D1 wins over Canisius, Morgan State and Sacramento State
•    Team also has three wins against Division III opponents
•    Lost to common opponent Lafayette (77-73) six days after Bing defeated Lafayette (82-81 OT)
•    Return six lettermen, including top two scorers, from 15-16 Division II team that lost in first round of PSAC tourney
•    Led by 6-foot-6 graduate forward Jeff Planutis, a preseason All-NEC selection who entered season with 1,377 career points at Mercyhurst
•    Head coach Gary Manchel (373 wins) is in 22nd year and has led Lakers to NCAA Division II tournament seven times in last 10 years
•    Manchel had a nine-year stint at UMass Lowell when the River Hawks were in Division II

ALL-TIME SERIES VS. MERCYHURST
•    First meeting between the two programs
•    Bearcats are 29-25 all-time against the NEC (2-1 this season)

WIN STREAK
The Bearcats have won four in a row, equaling their longest win streak in seven years. The 2022-23 team also ran off four straight (in conference play) and before that, the 2017-18 team won seven in a row. The program's Division I record is 11 in a row, set by the 2008-09 championship team. 

WALKER ON A TEAR 
Senior guard Chris Walker is coming off games of 20-30-22 points and has jumped his season scoring average to 11.8. Last week he was named America East Player of the Week, his first weekly conference honor, thanks to a career-best showing against Le Moyne. He followed up his 20-point performance at Lafayette with a 30-point output in the win over the Dolphins. Then on Sunday, he hit 7-of-8 (4-of-5 3-pt.) for 22 points vs. Lancaster Bible. In his last five games, Walker is averaging 19.2 points on 62% shooting. From 3-point range, he has hit 18-of-his-last-29 (62%). Walker ranks third in the America East in FG% (55%).    

WALSH STILL LEADS AE IN REBOUNDING
Sophomore forward Gavin Walsh continues to lead the America East in rebounding (9.5) by 1.5 boards per game over Max Brooks of UML (8.0). Walsh has posted double-digit rebounds in six of 11 games. He also leads the conference and ranks ninth in the nation with five double-doubles, thanks to a stretch of four consecutive (one shy of the school record). Walsh is close to averaging a double-double for the season (10.0 ppg., 9.5 rpg.). The last Bearcat to make a run at averaging a double-double for the season was all-conference freshman Jordan Reed in 2012-13. Reed averaged 16.6 points and a school-record 9.5 rebounds.   

CHENERY PILING UP NUMBERS 
Graduate guard Tymu Chenery is filling up the stat sheet in his final collegiate season. He has scored in double figures in 10 of 12 games and leads the Bearcats in points (13.5), assists (3.2) and blocks (1.2)  and is among the America East top-10 in four categories: minutes (33.8, 5th), field goal percentage (50%, 6th), blocks (1.2, 5th) and assists (3.2, 9th).  Chenery just eclipsed the 1,200-point career scoring mark (1,206).  

BALANCED SCORING FOR BEARCATS
The Bearcats have FIVE players averaging double-digit points (last year they finished with three) — the most of any team in the America East. They have also had six different players lead the team in single-game scoring. Those five players in double figures (Chenery, Walker, Callahan-Gold, Walsh, Benson) are shooting a combined 50%, while the rest of the team is converting 42%.   

PETERSON EARNING MORE MINUTES AT POINT
Senior guard Wes Peterson, Jr. has seen his minutes dramatically increase in the last five games — including the last three coming from the starting lineup. After averaging 11 minutes over his first seven games, Peterson is averaging 29 minutes over his last five. In his last four games, he is averaging 8.5 points on 52% shooting. For the season, he is shooting 54%, including converting an eye-catching 15-of-22 (68%) inside the arc.   

CALLAHAN-GOLD DIALED IN FROM BEYOND THE ARC
Binghamton, which averaged just five 3-pointers last season (8th in AE), focused on long-range firepower in its recruiting class. Graduate forward Ben Callahan-Gold made 88 3-pointers for Trinity last season, helping the D3 power reach the NCAA semifinals. Through 12 games, he leads the America East with 2.9 "3s" a game (on 44% accuracy, 5th in AE). Callahan-Gold has had eight games with three or more 3-pointers and he ranks 22nd in the NCAA in made 3s (35). In his last nine games, he is shooting 49% from beyond the arc (28-of-57). With Callahan-Gold leading the way, Binghamton ranks third in the AE in 3-pointers per game (8.2) and second in 3-point percentage (38%). 

GET TO 70
This year, when the Bearcats reach 70 points on offense, they are 6-0 and when they don't, they are 0-6. The trend is a continuation from last season, when 70 became a line of demarcation. Last season when BU held its opponent under 70 (in regulation), it was 12-2. When opponents reached the 70-point mark, BU was 3-12. When the Bearcats scored 70 or more points (in regulation), they were 10-4. Under 70 they were 5-10.