VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton men's basketball wipes the slate clean when the Bearcats (4-11) begin America East play in a new calendar year by hosting NJIT (5-10) Saturday at the Events Center. The teams tip at 2 p.m. at Dr. Bai Lee Court. 

The America East slate is a 16-game schedule that will span the next eight weeks before the playoffs begin the first week of March. Binghamton will play two of its first three games at home before a stretch of five-of-seven on the road. The Bearcats will look to jumpstart conference play against an NJIT team that finished last in 2024-25 and was picked to finish eighth this season.  

ABOUT NJIT 
•    Started season 3-1 but have gone 2-9 since with just one D-I win
•    Lost 80-61 at Penn on Wednesday in most recent game
•    Opened season with 11-point win at Fordham and then beat Loyola (Md.), FDU and New Haven for other D-I wins
•    Picked eighth of nine in America East Coaches' Preseason Poll
•    Return two starters and nine lettermen from 6-25 team that went 3-13 in conference play
•    Big graduation loss was Tariq Francis, who led entire America East in scoring (19.2 ppg.)
•    Francis and fellow graduate Tim Moore combined for 51 points in NJIT's season-ending win over the Bearcats in Vestal
•    Six-foot-7 sophomore forward Ari Fulton was on America East All-Rookie Team last year

ALL-TIME SERIES VS. NJIT
•    Binghamton leads the all-time series, which began in 1983, 9-4
•    Since the Highlanders joined the America East in 2021-22, Binghamton leads 8-2
•    The teams split the season series last year with each team winning on the road
•    Binghamton had won six straight head-to-head, including series sweeps in two straight years
•    In the most recent game, NJIT pulled out a 75-72 win at the Events Center in the regular-season finale last March 4. The surprising defeat to the last-place Highlanders cost the Bearcats fourth place in the standings and a home playoff game. In that game, NJIT scored the game's final six points, including the game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer. Binghamton trailed for much of the game but used 29 free throws to keep within striking distance of the Highlanders, who entered the game having lost 21 straight road games and were already eliminated from postseason contention. A Bearcats 3-point attempt with 24 seconds left was short and the Highlanders had the final possession. A driving shot was blocked by graduate guard Tymu Chenery with 1.5 seconds left but on the ensuing inbounds pass, NJIT hit a corner 3-pointer at the buzzer.   Sophomore forward Gavin Walsh totaled team-highs of 19 points and 14 rebounds. Chenery wound up with 17 points and four assists and Nehemiah Benson finished with 15 points.   

COMFORTABLE TUNEUP WIN OVER ELMIRA
On Monday, the Bearcats handled nearby Division III program Elmira 100-60. Bing shot a school-record 69 percent and put five players in double figures. The Bearcats raced out to a 22-9 lead in the first seven minutes and missed just one shot inside the arc in the first half (19-of-20). Leading 59-35 at intermission, Binghamton tacked on 41 more points to finish off its most lopsided win in two years. 

QUIGLEY LEADS AMERICA EAST IN ASSISTS, 7TH IN SCORING
In his last three games, junior point guard Jeremiah Quigley is averaging 20.0 points and 7.7 assists. He continues to lead the America East in assists (6.3/game) and ranks seventh in scoring (13.8 ppg.). Quigley ranks 17th in the country in assists and has registered 6+ assists eight times this season. Former PG Symir Torrence averaged a school-record 7.2 assists in 2023-24 (5th in NCAA).   

BEVERLY BOOSTING NUMBERS
Junior forward Zyier Beverly has posted back-to-back big games in the absence of leading scorer and rebounder Demetrius Lilley. In games against Army and Elmira, Beverly averaged 19.5 points (on 80% shooting), 7.5 rebounds and 3.0 blocks. He currently ranks second in the conference in field goal percentage (69%), fifth in blocks I(1.2) and eighth in rebounding (5.4). 

TOUGH SLEDDING IN AMERICA EAST OPENERS
Binghamton is 8-16 all-time in America East openers, including 3-7 in home openers. The Bearcats have dropped their conference opener in four of the last six years but posted an 87-82 home win over UMBC in last year's opener on Jan. 4.   

LILLEY ADDED TO 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 LEAD NCAA IN POINTS VIA FREE THROWS
Led by junior guard Jeremiah Quigley (68, 76%) 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 (277) and percentage (75%). 

QUIGLEY NAMED AMERICA EAST PLAYER OF WEEK
After a big game at Army on Dec. 23, junior point guard Jeremiah Quigley earned America East Player of the Week honors. He totaled 20 points and a career-high 12 assists in the 95-85 overtime loss. Quigley five rebounds and three steals in 43 minutes. 

BALANCED SCORING
Binghamton had a season-high five players reach double digits against Elmira, after getting four there at Army. In 12 of the 15 games, the Bearcats have had at least three players in double figures. Five different players have had the team-high in points in games and for the season, five players are averaging 9.5+ points. Last season, the team had four players at 9.5 ppg. and above.