ORONO, Maine – Host Maine (9-8, 1-1 America East) shot 73% in the second half and closed the game with a 17-7 run to defeat visiting Binghamton men's basketball (9-8, 1-1 AE) 81-72 Thursday night at The Pitt at Memorial Gymnasium.
Despite owning a double-digit lead early in the second half, the Bearcats were held to just eight second-half field goals. Binghamton converted just three shots over the game's final eight minutes as the fouls and turnovers mounted, amid Black Bear pressure.
"We talked about the key to the game and the key coming out for the second half was not turning the ball over. But we threw it all over the gym, gave them easy baskets and couldn't recover," head coach
Levell Sanders said. "We weren't engaging the defense, couldn't get the ball inside, and when we did we didn't finish enough. It's hard to defend when they score in transition off turnovers. We have to get better at that."
Graduate guard
Tymu Chenery collected team-highs of 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four blocks. Senior forward
Nehemiah Benson and sophomore forward
Gavin Walsh tallied 12 points apiece and sophomore guard
Evan Ashe gave the Bearcats four in double figures with 11 points.
After pushing its lead to 10 points twice early in the second half, Binghamton gave up a damaging 18-4 Maine run over five minutes as the Black Bears converted 10-of-13 shots to start the half. Chenery drilled a 3-pointer with 11:14 left that restored the Bearcats' lead one final time, 58-57. But a series of turnovers fueled the final decisive run.
It was a tale of two halves as the Bearcats were the much sharper team from the start. They trailed 17-15 before using a 21-8 run spanning eight minutes to forge a double-digit lead. Ashe had seven of his nine first-half points during the run, which featured points from six different Binghamton players. Ashe had a layup and turnaround jumper to cap the run, which gave the Bearcats a 36-25 cushion with 3:39 remaining.
Binghamton shot a sizzling 64% in the first half and led 40-32 at break.
The Bearcats continue their travels to Durham ahead of a Saturday afternoon matchup at UNH.
