VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton men's basketball has its final tuneup before America East play begins when the Bearcats (3-11) host regional foe Elmira (5-4) Monday afternoon. The teams tip at 4 p.m. at Dr. Bai Lee Court at the Events Center.

The Bearcats had a short two-day holiday break after losing in overtime at Army last Tuesday (95-85). Back on campus on Dec. 26, Binghamton continues its march toward conference play. The Bearcats open Saturday with a home game against NJIT. The 16-game America East slate extends until the final day of February. 

ABOUT ELMIRA 
•    Division III program from the Empire 8 Conference located 56 miles west along I-86
•    Idle for 3+ weeks since losing at Saint Elizabeth 85-66 Dec. 6 in New Jersey
•    Sit at 5-4 and have won four of last five
•    Have one common opponent: lost 81-70 to Misericordia 11 days before same Misericordia team lost 69-58 to the Bearcats at Events Center 
•    Eagles' final tuneup before Empire 8 schedule begins Jan. 6 vs. Brockport
•    Score 81+ points per game but give up 83
•    Hoist more than 31 3-pointers per game (shooting 27%)
•    Sophomore guard Kelton Brown averages 23.0 points (24th in NCAA D-III) on 52% shooting
•    First-year coach Denis Tobin was hired in June and has experience in powerful NESCAC
•    Returned four starters from 7-18 team last season (3-13 in E8)

ALL-TIME SERIES VS. ELMIRA
•    Elmira leads the all-time series, 16-12
•    The series dates back to Binghamton's first year as a college in 1946
•    In the most recent meeting eight years ago, the Bearcats won 113-65 on Dec. 30, 2017 at Events Center
•    Elmira had a strong program back in the 1990s and dealt the then-Division III Bearcats season-ending postseason losses two straight years (1992-93 and 1993-94), the final of which was in the ECAC Championship game next door at West Gym. That loss ended an exceptional 23-7 Binghamton season under legendary coach Dick Baldwin. The final encounter as D3 opponents was on Jan. 4, 1997 (58-56 Elmira home win)
•    In that game, Binghamton established Division I program records for points, field goals (43) and shooting percentage (66.2%) in the lopsided win. The Bearcats made their first eight shots and opened the game with a 17-2 run to take control. Binghamton led 53-37 at half and then put 60 points on the board in the second half, thanks to 75% shooting (21-of-28). Eight players had eight or more points and all 12 healthy Bearcats scored three or more. Senior forward Willie Rodriguez tallied 19 points (9-of-11 FG) in just 13 minutes of work.
  
OVERTIME LOSS AT ARMY
Last Tuesday, the Bearcats put up a season-high 85 points on 51% shooting but fell at Army in overtime 95-85. Bing trailed by as many as 11 points in the second half before rallying to force the extra session. The Bearcats came back from eight down in the final 2:30 to force overtime. But the Black Knights pushed ahead with a layup just four seconds into the OT, padded their 3-point total with two more (11 made 3s after halftime) and held off the Bearcats with six free throws in the final minute. The game featured six ties and four lead changes. 

QUIGLEY PILES UP BIG NUMBERS AT WEST POINT
Junior point guard Jeremiah Quigley totaled 20 points, 12 assists, five rebounds and three steals in 43 minutes at Army. It was his second points-assists double-double of the season and also was his second straight 20+ point game and third of the season. The 12 assists were a career-high and just one off the school record (Anthony Green vs. Northeastern on Feb. 23, 2003). The big assist game boosted his season average to an America East-leading 6.2 per game, which ranks 18th in the country. He has registered 6+ assists seven times this season. Former PG Symir Torrence averaged a school-record 7.2 assists in 2023-24 (5th in NCAA).   

LILLEY ADDED TO UNPRECEDENTED INJURY LIST
Already down an NCAA-leading four scholarship players with season-ending injuries, the Bearcats were dealt another big blow when senior leading scorer and rebounder Demetrius Lilley suffered an injury at Mercyhurst on Dec. 20. He entered the game ranked third in the country in double-doubles (8) and 13th in rebounds (10.3) and was ranked among the America East top-2 in both categories. He is out indefinitely.    

BEARCATS RANK NO. 1 IN NCAA IN POINTS VIA FREE THROWS
Led by junior guard Jeremiah Quigley (64, 74%) and senior center Demetrius Lilley (59 makes, 81%), Binghamton is getting to the free throw line and converting points. The Bearcats lead the entire nation in percentage of points from free throws with 29.1% of their points coming at the line. As a team, Bing leads the America East in free throw makes (260) and percentage (75%). 

BLACKBURN NAMED AMERICA EAST ROOKIE OF WEEK
Freshman guard Jake Blackburn had two solid outings before Christmas and was named America East Rookie of the Week on Dec. 22. He gave Binghamton fans a glimpse of what's to come in his promising career with a 12-point showing at Pitt. Blackburn was playing just his second collegiate game after an injury kept him out off the floor since August. He hit 4-of-4 shots — all 3-pointers — in 22 minutes off the bench. Blackburn then added five points and two rebounds in 22 minutest at Mercyhurst. He then earned his first collegiate start at Army with 16 minutes. The 6-foot-5 sharpshooter came to campus from Southborough, Mass.   

BALANCED SCORING
Binghamton had four players score in double figures at Army - the seventh time this season the team did so. For the season, there are five players averaging 9.5+ points. Last season, the team had four players at 9.5 ppg. and above.