VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton men's basketball plays its third game in six days when the Bearcats (1-1) host Niagara (0-1) at 2 p.m. Saturday at Dr. Bai Lee Court at the Events Center. The game is Binghamton's second in a row at home before a stretch of four-of-five on the road.
The Bearcats pushed past RIT 66-56 on Wednesday in a lineup-limited performance. Junior forward
Zyier Beverly led the Bearcats with 17 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. He joined senior teammate
Demetrius Lilley as double-double producers early in the season. Junior point guard
Jeremiah Quigley added 10 points and eight assists. Quigley leads the America East early on in assists (6.0/game).
ABOUT NIAGARA
- Began season with 83-63 loss Monday at Duquesne
- Fell behind 41-20 at half before outscoring hosts by one in the second period
- Team went 11-20 last season, 6-14 in MAAC (12th of 13)
- 2024-25 team went 6-7 at home but just 3-13 on road
- Lost six games by three or fewer points and finished season by losing six of last seven
- Picked to finish 12th again this season
- Had to replace four starters and 10 lettermen from last season, including top seven scorers
- Brought in nine newcomers, including eight transfers
- Seventh-year head coach Greg Paulus is familiar to Binghamton area Syracuse fans from his graduate year as quarterback of the Orange (2009) after four years of basketball at Duke
- Team attempted an average of 23 3-pointers last season (35%) and took 25 in the neutral site meeting with Binghamton (made 8)
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. NIAGARA
- Niagara leads the all-time series 3-2, thanks to a win last season at Lafayette Classic
- Purple Eagles posted 65-62 win in opening game on Nov. 29 in Easton, Pa.
- In that game, Niagara sank the game-winning 3-pointer with 0.6 left at Kirby Sports Center. The Bearcats played from behind for most of the second half but twice tied the game in the closing 44 seconds. The final tie was forged when graduate forward Ben Callahan-Gold swished in a 24-footer from the top of the key with five seconds remaining. Binghamton drilled a season-high 12 3-pointers – six in each half – and rallied to tie from seven points down in the final four minutes.
- Teams split games in 2022 and 2023 with each team winning on its home floor. Niagara won 73-67 in 2022 and Binghamton won 74-69 at Events Center in 2023
