DURHAM, N.H. – Host New Hampshire (6-12, 1-4 America East) closed the third overtime period with a 9-2 run to outlast Binghamton men's basketball (4-17, 0-6 AE) 88-82 (3OT) Thursday night at Lundholm Gym.

Playing the program's first triple overtime game in 29 years, the shorthanded Bearcats nearly pulled out a road win as they played with the lead for 41 minutes and led by as many as 18 points before running out of gas and players in the final frame.

"I'm proud of our guys," head coach Levell Sanders said. "We fought to the end against a physical team and we battled but just came up a little short."

Senior guard Wes Peterson, Jr. led all scorers with a career-high 28 points in an exhausting 54 minutes. Peterson netted seven of those points in the first overtime, when Binghamton led by four with 43 seconds left before UNH rallied. Peterson then tallied four points in the final 12 seconds of the second overtime, including a pair of clutch free throws with 3.9 seconds left to tie the game at 75-75 and force another period.

Junior forward Zyier Beverly gave the Bearcats an 80-79 lead with a 3-pointer with 2:31 left in the third overtime. But with both Bing big men fouled out of the game, UNH found its way to the free throw line in the closing 1:33 and made seven free throws to seal the game. Beverly notched his second double-double of the season with 21 points and 11 rebounds.

Earlier in the second overtime, junior point guard Jeremiah Quigley fouled out on a charge call after approaching a triple-double with 12 points, eight assists and eight rebounds.

The Bearcats were in control throughout much of the first 30 minutes and led by 18 points, 44-26, early in the second half. But UNH used a 26-11 run to rally. After surrendering the lead late in regulation, Binghamton needed a dunk from Beverly with 28 seconds left to force overtime. The Wildcats had chances to win the game on the final possession of regulation and each of the first two overtimes but missed shots at the buzzers of each.  

The Bearcats began the game with a spark, hitting 10-of-14 shots and building a quick 12-point lead. After UNH trimmed it to four, 28-24, Binghamton closed the half with a 12-2 run to take a 40-26 cushion into break. Peterson tallied 10 of his points in the opening period, including a 3-pointer with 12 seconds left for the final points of the half. The 40-point showing was Bing's highest first-half output (vs. D-I foe) of the season.

The Bearcats continue their New England road trip Saturday afternoon at Maine.

NOTES
The last triple overtime Binghamton played was on Feb. 8, 1997 when the D-III Colonials lost at Plattsburgh 83-81 … the longest game in program history remains a four overtime game on Feb. 16, 1981 (58-51 win over Oneonta).