BURLINGTON, Vt. – Host Vermont (10-9, 3-1 America East) made four free throws in the final 27 seconds to hold off Binghamton men's basketball (9-10, 1-3 AE) 72-64 Thursday night at Patrick Gym. The teams were dead-even in 3-pointers and field goals but the Catamounts scored 23 points off Bearcat turnovers to provide the winning edge.
The Bearcats shot above 60% until the closing minutes and were within striking range throughout the second half. Down 62-57 with 3:48 left, however, Binghamton missed six of its final nine shots and lost for the 22nd straight time to the eight-time reigning regular season champions. The eight-point showing was the closest Binghamton has been at Patrick Gym in 16 years.
Graduate guard
Tymu Chenery continued his outstanding run with his third 20-point game of the season. Chenery tallied 18 of those points in the second half, including a 2:41 stretch when he canned three 3-pointers to keep the Bearcats close. Chenery is averaging 19.3 points in his last three games. Graduate forward
Ben Callahan-Gold hit 4-of-8 from beyond the arc for 14 points and sophomore forward
Gavin Walsh added 11 points and seven rebounds.
Despite never leading in the game, Binghamton cut its margin to two points early in the second and dwindled it down to three midway through the period. It was a single-digit affair for the final 13 minutes.
Vermont opened the game with an 18-9 run and stretched it to a 14-point cushion (30-16) with seven minutes left as turnovers negated a Bearcats offense that hit 9-of-12 shots to start. But Bing outscored the Catamounts 15-7 to end the half within six, 37-31. Binghamton outshot Vermont throughout the half but 10 turnovers resulted in 13 points for the hosts. The Bearcats shot a sizzling 68% in the period. Callahan-Gold led the charge with three 3-pointers for nine points. Walsh added seven points and all seven Bearcats to hit the floor registered points.
The Bearcats played the game without both their starting point guards, out with illness/injury.
Binghamton returns home to host UAlbany at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Events Center. A large crowd is expected for Weis Markets "Pack the House" day and the Bearcats will wear their throwback "Colonials" jerseys to face their longtime SUNY rival.
