VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton men's basketball begins the final four-game stretch of the regular season when the Bearcats (12-13, 4-8 America East) face host UMass Lowell (17-7, 8-3 AE) Thursday night. Tip is 6:30 p.m. from Costello Gym.

Binghamton has four games left in regular season, two at home and two on road. The Bearcats are in a tie for sixth place but are just a half-game out of fifth and UAlbany. UML will be a challenging test for a BU defense that has held opponents to a 64.1 scoring average over the last seven games. The River Hawks are the top scoring team in the conference (80.1 ppg.) and also lead in FG% (49%).

The Bearcats are coming off a 69-55 road win at NJIT on Saturday. In that game, BU shot 52 percent and put four in double figures. Graduate point guard Symir Torrence, fourth in the country in assists (7.3/game), returned to the lineup to spark BU.

ABOUT UMASS LOWELL

• In third place, a half-game out of second in standings
• Started AE play at 6-1 but have gone 2-2 in last four games
• In AE play, have a worse home record (3-2) than road record (5-1)
• Coming off 86-77 road win at Bryant on Saturday
• In that game, Yuri Covington scored 27 points and UML scored 47 points in second half to pull away
• Lead AE in scoring (80.1 ppg.) and rebounding (40.0/game)
• Beat ACC member Georgia Tech 74-71 in Nov. and have current NCAA Net Ranking of 139, second-best in America East
• Seven players are scoring 8.5 or more points
• Picked second in AE Preseason Poll after a 26-win season that ended in the program's second AE title game berth in three years

ALL-TIME SERIES vs. UMASS LOWELL

• UML leads 17-9 (13-8 as Division I programs)
• UML posted 80-60 win in Vestal one month ago (Jan. 20)
• In that game, unbeaten UML ended the first half with a decisive 23-7 run. Playing without injured leading scorer Tymu Chenery, BU was held to 25 first-half points and the Bearcats couldn't rally from the 18-point halftime deficit
• Teams split season series last year with each winning at home
• BU has won three of the last five, thanks to a sweep in 2021-22
• In Lowell, UML leads 10-4 but BU has split the last four
• In the last meeting last Feb. 18, 2023 in Lowell, UML won 84-70
• In that game, UML made 25-of-29 free throws and held off BU down the stretch. The Bearcats shot above 50% until the closing minutes and outshot and outrebounded UMass Lowell, but BU was called for 23 fouls and also hurt its cause with a season-high 23 turnovers. Dan Petcash scored a team-high 21 points for BU.
• UML won four of five matchups when both programs were D2

ANOTHER STRONG DEFENSIVE EFFORT
After a hiccup against UMBC (L 89-78), BU's defense was back to form in Saturday's 69-55 win at NJIT. The Bearcats held NJIT to 31% shooting and pulled away in the second half. In the last seven games, BU is holding opponents to 64.1 points and has held three teams under 60.  

BEARCATS BEST AE TEAM ON GLASS
In conference play, Binghamton leads the AE in both rebounds (37.9) and rebound margin (+5.2). Overall, BU ranks 22nd in the nation in defensive rebounds (28.1/game) and 39th in rebound margin (+5.3).  

BENSON MAXIMIZING MINUTES
Senior forward Nehemiah Benson has been a consistent performer in his first season at Binghamton. He leads the team and ranks third in the America East in field goal percentage (60%). Benson is averaging 9.8 points and has scored in double-figures in five of his last eight games — all while averaging just 21 minutes of PT. Pro-rated for a 40-minute game, his production would be 18.5 points and 7.8 rebounds.

70 REMAINS TIPPIING POINT
When BU holds its opponent under 70 (in regulation), it's 11-2. When opponents reach the 70-point mark, BU is 1-11. When the Bearcats score 70 or more points (in regulation), they are 8-3. Under 70 they are 4-10.

CHENERY PUTTING TOGETHER STRONG SEASON
Senior guard and leading scorer Tymu Chenery has been having his finest collegiate season, averaging 14.6 points on 50% shooting (63% inside arc). In his last 17 games, Chenery is averaging 16.0 points with 15 double-digit games, including 11 straight. He has been BU's top scorer 10 times and is logging 30 minutes a game. He also leads the Bearcats and ranks 87th in the nation in blocks (1.5).  

HARRIED STEPPING UP PRODUCTION IN AE PLAY
Graduate forward Armon Harried has jumped his stats during America East play. In the 12 conference games, Harried is averaging 13.3 points and 7.1 rebounds (8th in AE). His scoring average is more than four points higher than it was during non-conference play (8.7) and his rebound average is 2.6 boards more than his non-conference mark (4.5). Harried is logging 37 minutes a game in conference play and took over primary point guard duties for three games in the absence of Symir Torrence. He tied his season high with 19 points (7-for-11 FG) against UMBC last Thursday and had a team-high 17 in Saturday's win at NJIT.

TORRENCE LEADS AMERICA EAST, IS 4TH IN NATION IN ASSISTS
Graduate guard Symir Torrence ranks fourth in the nation in assists (7.3/game). He returned after missing three games with an injury and handed out eight helpers in the win over NJIT. Torrence has at least five assists in every game this season and 8+ in three straight games. He has produced eight or more assists 10 times this season. That 7.3 average also leads the America East by two per game. Sam Sessoms holds the BU Division I record for season assist average (4.8 in 2019-20). Torrence also leads BU in rebounding (6.0, 9th in AE) and is the only player in the country averaging 8-6-6 (pts-rebs-assts).

BU ONE OF BEST AMERICA EAST TEAMS SCORING INSIDE ARC
Despite its struggles from 3-point range (29%, last in AE), BU ranks fifth in the America East in overall field goal percentage (46%) and also is third in percentage inside the arc. The Bearcats are shooting 53% inside the arc, trailing only conference leader Vermont (57%) and second-place UMass Lowell (55%).

CHENERY 36 POINTS AWAY FROM 1,000
With Armon Harried reaching the 1,000-point plateau in November, focus now turns to teammate Tymu Chenery (964 pts., 36 points away) in his quest for 1K. He still has one more season of NCAA eligibility remaining.    

BALANCED SCORING, REBOUNDING
Binghamton has six players averaging 8.0 or more points. By comparison, last season's team only had four in that range. Seven different players have led the team in game scoring this season (Chenery 10, Harried 4, Walker 2, Ashe 2, Balogun 3, Benson 2, Walsh). Seven different players have been the top rebounder.