VESTAL, N.Y. - Visiting NJIT (6-25, 3-13 America East) scored the game's final six points, including the game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer, to rally past Binghamton men's basketball (15-16, 7-9 AE) 75-72 in the regular-season finale Tuesday night at Dr. Bai Lee Court at the Events Center.
With Tuesday's full results, Binghamton will carry the No. 5 seed into the America East tournament and will open with a quarterfinal game at 7 p.m. Saturday at No. 4 UAlbany.
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.
After senior forward
Nehemiah Benson sank two free throws with 1:12 left, Binghamton led 72-69. But NJIT coraled a crucial offensive rebound off a 3-point miss and given the second chance, the Highlanders drilled a 3-pointer to tie it at 72-72 with 42 seconds left. 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.
"It was disappointing ... we didn't execute well enough, especially defensively," head coach
Levell Sanders said. "When we got the lead at the end and had opportunities to close out it, we turned the ball over. Execution is the name of the game and give NJIT credit ... they fought and played their butts off and that's why they got the 'W.'"
Sophomore forward
Gavin Walsh totaled team-highs of 19 points and 14 rebounds to notch his school-record-setting 14th double-double of the season. Walsh, who ranks among the nation's top-five rebounders, pulled down eight in the first half and broke the double-double record he shared with former all-conference guard Jordan Reed (2012-13). It's the 10th game this season that Walsh has pulled down 14 or more boards.
Chenery wound up with 17 points and four assists and Benson finished with 15 points.
The game was tied eight times but there were only three lead changes. NJIT grabbed the lead midway through the first half, led by two at intermission and pushed the margin to as many as 10, 60-50, before the Bearcats rallied. Binghamton didn't reclaim the lead until Chenery made two free throws with 2:39 left to give the Bearcats a 68-66 lead. Senior guard
Wes Peterson, Jr. then stole the ball near mid-court, was fouled and his free throws moved Binghamton's margin to four, 70-66, with 2:29 left. But two turnovers in a 37-second span and no field goals in the final 2:53 left the door open for the Highlanders' closing run.
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2025 Jersey Mike's America East Men's Basketball Playoffs
Quarterfinals – Saturday, March 8
#7 New Hampshire at #2 Vermont, 3 p.m.
#8 UMBC at #1 Bryant, 4 p.m.
#6 UMass Lowell at #3 Maine, 6 p.m.
#5 Binghamton at #4 UAlbany, 7 p.m.
Semifinals – Tuesday, March 11
Lowest remaining seed at Highest remaining seed, TBD
Second-lowest remaining seed at second-highest remaining seed, TBD
Final – Saturday, March 15
Semifinal Winners, 11 a.m. (ESPN2/ESPN+)
