VESTAL, N.Y. - Freshman guard Jake Blackburn keyed a big second-half rally with a trio of 3-pointers and Binghamton men's basketball (7-23, 3-12 America East) kept its postseason hopes alive with a riveting 65-63 win over visiting New Hampshire (8-19, 4-10 AE) Thursday night at Dr. Bai Lee Court at the Events Center.

With its second win in the last three games, the Bearcats pulled to within one game of both UNH and Bryant in the standings. Binghamton plays its final regular season game Saturday when Maine comes to Vestal. A win on Saturday plus two losses by Bryant in its remaining games would move the Bearcats into the postseason. 

The Bearcats trailed by 10 at half and were down 42-28 early in the second half before Blackburn ignited a 25-8 run with a barrage of 3-pointers. The freshman sharpshooter swished in treys on three straight possessions, totaling nine points in 59 seconds. Graduate guard Jackson Benigni capped the 8+ minute run with three free throws, the last of which gave Binghamton a 51-50 lead with 10:06 left. The teams played within three points for nearly seven minutes before junior guard Jeremiah Quigley (17 pts., 6 assts.) began an 8-1 run with four straight points. 

Up 64-56 with 1:49 left, the Bearcats withstood a late UNH rally - one that ended with a potential game-winning 3-point attempt falling short off the rim in the final seconds. 

"It was a battle," head coach Levell Sanders said. "We played better offensively in the second half and made some shots, which energized the building. It was a big-time win and gives us the opportunity to keep playing for something. This time of year, to still be playing for something is important."

Quigley, already the school's single-season assist leader, added six more to his total, now at 187. He leads the America East and ranks 16th in the country with a 6.5 average. Quigley hit 7-of-12 shots and added five rebounds in 40 minutes. Junior forward Zyier Beverly tallied 14 points with six rebounds and three blocks. Blackburn scored all 11 of his points in the second half, and Benigni gave the Bearcats a fourth double-digit scorer with 10 points. 

Binghamton shot 58 percent in the second half and stood tall amid fatigue, despite having just six healthy scholarship players available after another Bearcat went down earlier in the week. The Wildcats hoisted 36 3-pointers (made 12) and took 14 more shots, thanks primarily to 14 offensive rebounds.  

The Bearcats close out the regular season at 2 p.m. Saturday against Maine. Before the game, Jackson Benigni and Wes Peterson, Jr. will be honored, along with senior manager Elliott Nelson on Senior Day.