For Immediate Release: January 2, 2005
Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6800

Binghamton men's basketball falls short at Northeastern, 75-68
Heard's 27 second-half points not enough as BU falls to 0-2 in league play

Box score

BOSTON, Mass. - Northeastern guards Jose Juan Barea and Marcus Barnes combined for 53 points and the host Huskies (6-5, 2-0 America East) scored 21 points in the game's final five minutes to hold off Binghamton (3-8, 0-2 AE), 75-68, in a conference game Sunday afternoon from Solomon Court. After shooting just 33% in the first half, the Huskies converted 64% (16-of-25) in the second frame. The win spoiled an outstanding performance from Bearcats junior guard Andre Heard (Oklahoma City, Okla), who scored all 27 of his points in the second half.

The Bearcats led 56-49 with 6:43 to play before Barea took over down the stretch. The flashy guard drained two three-pointers in a 30-second span, and added a four-point play 1:12 later to lift the Huskies into a 64-63 lead. After being contained for much of the game, Barea exploded down the stretch, netting 13 points in the final 4:41 to put up a game-high 28. Barnes contributed 25 points.

Meanwhile, Heard was a one-man scoring machine for Binghamton. Five days after pouring in 32 points in a win over Colgate, he was unstoppable again, hitting 9-of-17 shots after the break. He also produced four steals, including back-to-back swipes of Barea that led to BU baskets. In fact, Heard scored 25 of BU's final 30 points - the last two giving Binghamton its final lead, 67-66, with 2:15 to play. In the final minute, however, the Bearcats missed all four shot attempts and committed a costly turnover, and the Huskies sealed the win with four free throws.

"It was a good game," head coach Al Walker said. "I felt as though we didn't lose it ... they just won the game. Barea took over and was fantastic. We just didn't get consistent performances from some of our guys, but I take my hat off to Northeastern."

Walker was quick to praise Heard, who raised his season scoring average to 15.5 points per game.

"Andre was outstanding," Walker said. "There is no question that he is becoming one of the top players in the America East."

Senior center Alex Adediran (Covington, Ga.) chipped in 16 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Senior guard Billy Williams (Milwaukee, Wis.) had a strong all-around game with nine points, six assists and five boards.

The Bearcats got off to a strong start, thanks to Adediran, who scored 11 first-half points, including six straight during an 11-4 BU run midway through the period. Northeastern misfired on 16 of its first 21 shots and Binghamton forged a 26-18 lead with three minutes to play. The Huskies ended the half on a 12-4 run, however, to draw even at intermission, 30-30.

Binghamton now returns home to face America East foe Maine on January 6.