VESTAL, N.Y. - Visiting Bryant (16-9, 8-2 America East) shot 61% in the second half and made 7-of-8 free throws in the closing 30 seconds to hold off Binghamton men's basketball (11-12, 3-7 AE) 70-69 Saturday afternoon at Dr. Bai Lee Court at the Events Center. The physical game was bogged down with 42 fouls, four technicals and an ejection.
The Bearcats led by as many as 11 points in the first half and were up seven early in the second before the Bulldogs used a 12-0 run to grab the lead. Down eight with 4:27 left, BU used a pair of buckets from freshman forward
Gavin Walsh to chip away and then began the intentional foul/free throw routine in hopes of rallying. But each ensuing Bearcats driving layup was followed by a pair of Bryant made free throws. Down four in the closing seconds, graduate forward
Dan Petcash sank a 3-pointer at the buzzer for the final margin.
"I thought we played hard and well enough to win," head coach
Levell Sanders said. "They made a few more plays down the stretch but physically, we competed. We got bogged down a bit in the second half and they got some momentum. Giving up 45 points in the second half is way too many but I loved the way we came out and competed. Give them credit down the stretch ... they were able to inbound the ball to their free throw shooters and they made their shots."
Senior guard
Tymu Chenery led the Bearcats with 18 points - 13 of which came in the second half. Petcash wound up with 17 points and 10 rebounds - his second-straight double-double. Walsh posted his first collegiate double-double with 13 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. The Bearcats played their second straight game without graduate point guard
Symir Torrence (7.3 assists/game, 4th in NCAA) and the team managed just eight assists with 17 turnovers.
Binghamton started the game with an 18-7 run before Bryant brought it back to three at half, 30-25. Averaging 81 points a game, Bryant was expected to make a scoring run in the second half and they did, tallying 45 points to get to the 70-point mark. When opponents get to 70, the Bearcats are 1-11.
Binghamton hosts UMBC next Thursday at the Events Center.
