SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Host Syracuse toppled Binghamton men's basketball 85-47 in the season opener for both teams Monday night at the JMA Wireless Dome.

The ACC member Orange created a gap in the game's first three minutes, opening up a 10-0 lead. But Binghamton was only outscored by eight the rest of the way and trailed 32-14 at intermission.

Graduate guard Jackson Benigni sparked the Bearcats late in the first half with six points in a 45-second span. Benigni canned a 3-pointer off an inbounds and then converted three free throws on the next possession. That mini run brought Binghamton to within 13, down 25-12, with 4:08 left.

In the second half, the Orange took advantage of Bearcat foul trouble as three Binghamton starters went to the bench with three fouls apiece and then point guard Jeremiah Quigley picked up his fourth early in the period. Syracuse shot 69% from the floor to pull away. The Bearcats raised their conversion rate as well with 40% shooting in the final period. Binghamton also held SU to just 4-for-21 from 3-point range.

Senior center Demetrius Lilley earned a double-double in his Bearcats debut with 17 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Lilley added two blocks in 36 high-energy minutes. Junior forward Zyier Beverly chipped in 11 points om 4-of-6 shooting. Quigley contributed six points and four assists.  

"Syracuse came out and took it to us," head coach Levell Sanders said. "They were way more physical and aggressive and we weren't ready for it … so we were never able to get into the game. Playing against a team like that, if you don't have confidence, that's what happens."  

Binghamton returns to the Events Center for back-to-back home games beginning with a Wednesday night matchup against in-state foe RIT. Tip-off is set for 6:07 p.m.