BUFFALO, N.Y. – Host Canisius (4-3) sank four free throws in the final 37 seconds to hold off Binghamton men's basketball (2-6) 75-66 in the final game of the Queen City Classic Sunday afternoon at Koessler Athletic Center.
The Griffs used a 20-7 early-second-half run to grab the lead and never relinquished it, despite a spirited Bearcats push, led by junior point guard
Jeremiah Quigley, who scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half.
Down 11 midway through the final period, Binghamton embarked on a 17-8 run that featured seven points from graduate guard
Jackson Benigni (14 pts., 11 in second). Benigni's 3-pointer with 5:17 left brought the Bearcats to within two, 56-54. But Canisius countered with a 3-pointer on the other end and Binghamton drew no closer than three the rest of the way. Quigley scored seven of his points in the final 3:34 before the Griffs iced the game at the line in the final minute.
"I think we had a much better start today," head coach
Levell Sanders said. "We kept battling and on short rest and down a few guys, I'm happy with how we fought. It's hard to win when you shoot 3-for-21 from 3-point range. When the shots become available, you have to step up and knock them down."
The shorthanded Bearcats again played with just seven healthy scholarship players.
Quigley and senior center
Demetrius Lilley paced the Bearcats with 15 points apiece. Benigni had 14 and junior forward
Zyier Beverly added 13 points on 5-for-5 shooting.
Binghamton trailed by eight midway through the first half before Beverly sparked a 12-2 run with five points. Junior guard
Bryson Wilson cashed in a three-point play and Lilley added a spark with four points. Then after Canisius reclaimed the lead, the Bearcats scored the final six points of the half to carry a 26-24 edge into intermission. Benigni popped a 3 with 51 seconds left and Lilley followed with a corner 3 that swishing in ahead of the halftime horn.
Binghamton is off for eight days before beginning a three-game homestand by hosting Lehigh on Dec. 2.
