VESTAL, N.Y. - First-place Bryant (15-10, 9-1 America East) made 5-of-6 free throws in the final 18 seconds to hold off Binghamton men's basketball (12-13, 4-6 AE) 78-71 at Dr. Bai Lee Court at the Events Center Saturday afternoon. The loss in front of a season-high 3,018 fans, snapped the Bearcats' three-game win streak.

Binghamton stood toe-to-toe with the league-leading Bulldogs in a game that featured 11 ties and seven lead changes. But Bryant used an 18-4 run to erase a five-point Binghamton second-half lead and the Bearcats couldn't keep up the scoring pace down the stretch. Bryant entered the game averaging a league-leading 83 points. 

"Bryant made their baskets and got stops in the moments when the game was still up in the air," head coach Levell Sanders said. "We weren't able to capitalize on our chances and they closed the door. That's what the really good teams do. We competed and battled today ... our execution just wasn't at a high-enough level to win."

Despite shooting 37% for the game, Binghamton trimmed a nine-point deficit to three inside two minutes. But the Bulldogs had the answer each time and then closed the game with the five free throw makes. The Bearcats misfired on 11-of-15 shots to end the game. 

Graduate guard Tymu Chenery led the Bearcats with 18 points. Sophomore guard Evan Ashe had one of his strongest games of the season with 17 points (7-of-10 FG). Senior guard Chris Walker and sophomore forward Gavin Walsh added 10 points apiece. Walsh, who ranks No. 2 in the nation in defensive rebounds, collected eight more. 

The Bearcats trailed by seven midway through the first half before Ashe caught fire. He hit 4-of-5, including a pair of 3-pointers to spark the Bearcats, who trailed 38-32 at intermission. 

Next up is a two-game, four-day road trip to UMBC and NJIT, beginning with Thursday's tilt in Baltimore.