VESTAL, N.Y. - Visiting Central Connecticut State (6-4) used a 20-4 run early in the second half to pull away from Binghamton men's basketball (3-8) 84-67 Saturday afternoon at Dr. Bai Lee Court at the Events Center.

CCSU, which owns wins over ACC member Boston College and Big Ten member Rutgers, shot 63 percent in the final 20 minutes to lock up the win. The Bearcats played without their leading scorer and rebounder, Demetrius Lilley (out sick), and couldn't keep up with the Blue Devils.

CCSU withstood a mini Binghamton run to open the second half - a 6-2 edge that pulled the Bearcats to within three, 48-45, three minutes in. But after hitting eight 3-pointers in the first half, the Blue Devils did their damage inside in the second, scoring 28 of the team's 38 points in the paint. 

"We couldn't stop them," head coach Levell Sanders said. "They have a dynamic scorer and guys who can make shots. They will be a tough out in the Northeast Conference. But giving up 84 points is way too many ... we have to get better defensively and improve overall."

Junior forward Zyier Beverly led the Bearcats with 21 points in 27 minutes. Beverly hit 6-of-9 from the floor and 9-of-12 from the line. He scored 17 of those points in the first half, when Binghamton stayed within striking distance, trailing 46-39 at intermission. The Bearcats shot 52 percent in the period, though CCSU countered with 57 percent accuracy. 

Junior point guard Jeremiah Quigley scored all 10 of his points in the first half and wound up with seven assists. Quigley leads the America East with 6.1 assists per game. Senior guard Wes Peterson, Jr. gave Binghamton three in double figures with a season-high 15-point performance. Peterson hit 7-of-9 shots. Freshman forward Jake Blackburn returned from injury and made his collegiate debut. He hit a 3-pointer with 5:41 remaining for his first collegiate points. Redshirt freshman walk-on Nevin Ibroci also drilled a 3-pointer for his first collegiate points. 

The Bearcats next embark on a two-game, five-day trek through Western Pennsylvania with games at ACC member Pitt (Tues.) and Mercyhurst (Sat.).