For Immediate Release: February 27, 2005
Contact: John Hartrick
Phone: 607-777-6800

Binghamton men's basketball stuns Boston U. 65-48 in regular-season finale
Bearcats thrill season-high crowd of 4,118, earn No. 5 seed for America East tourney

Box score
Complete America East Championship bracket

VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton (10-16, 7-10 America East) stormed out of the gate on Senior Day, built a 14-point halftime lead and thumped visiting Boston University (20-7, 14-4 AE), 65-48, in the regular-season finale for both teams Sunday afternoon from the Events Center. A season-high home crowd of 4,118 was buzzing from start to finish, as the Bearcats won for the first time in eight meetings with the Terriers.

With the win, Binghamton earned the No. 5 seed for the upcoming America East Championship and will host No. 4 Albany in a quarterfinal game at noon next Saturday, March 5. Binghamton is hosting the first three rounds of the tournament on March 4-6.

The Bearcats opened the game by hitting eight of their first 11 shots, and raced out ot a 30-11 lead with 8:31 to play in the half. The Terriers, who missed seven of their first nine shots, came back with an 11-0 run to cut the margin to eight, 30-22, with 2:54 to play. But sophomore guard Troy Hailey (Hyattsbille, Md.) responded with back-to-back three-pointers to push Binghamton's margin back to 14 at intermission, and the Bearcats never let Boston University come any closer than 13 points throughout the second period.

The four seniors provided an emotional lift for Binghamton, as seven-foot center Nick Billings (Kodiak, Alaska), forward Joe White (Winsted, Conn.), wing player Billy Williams (Milwaukee, Wis.) and center Alex Adediran (Covington, Ga.) each played key roles in their final regular season appearance at home. Billings scored 13 points - including his first-ever three-pointer in the game's final minute - and added three blocks in 20 minutes. Williams, who had played just two minutes in the last seven games, was given 23 minutes and chalked up a season-high 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting. White nailed an early three-pointer during Binghamton's opening run, and Adediran pulled down eight rebounds for the game.

"It was one of the great wins we've had here in my five years," head coach Al Walker said. "We made some shots early and we handled the press pretty well. I just think it is a great way to finish the regular season and start the America East playoffs."

Junior guard Andre Heard (Oklahoma City, Okla.) led three players in double figures with a game-high 16 points. Heard nailed 4-of-7 three-pointers and collected 12 of his points in the pivotal first half. Freshman guard Mike Gordon (Plainfield, N.J.) flirted with a triple-double before settling on season-highs of nine points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Junior forward Sebastian Hermenier (Rockville, Md.) chipped in nine rebounds.

Boston University was led by senior forward Rashad Bell, who netted 13 points - thanks primarily to 9-for-9 shooting from the free throw line.

"It was very clear from the start who wanted to win this game more," Boston University head coach Dennis Wolff said. "They played well today."

Binghamton now will await the America East Championship, where all 10 teams will converge on campus for the eight-game, three-day tournament held at the Events Center. The complete championship bracket will be announced early Sunday evening after the conclusion of the 4 p.m. game between Hartford and UMBC.

NOTES
Binghamton wound up in a tie for fifth place with Maine but the Bearcats earned the fifth seed by virtue of their season sweep of the Black Bears ... The home attendance of 4,118 was the largest of the season and third-largest in school history, topped only the 4,823 against Boston last February 29 and the inaugural crowd of 4,660 last January 31 against Hartford.