For Immediate Release: January 19, 2005
Contact: John Hartrick
Phone: 607-777-6800

Binghamton men's basketball rolls over Stony Brook, 72-45
Bearcats snap three-game skid with convincing win

Box score

VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton (5-11, 2-5 AE) jumped out of the gate by scoring 13 of the game's first 15 minutes and never looked back in posting a 72-45 win over visiting Stony Brook (7-9, 2-5 AE) in an America East men's basketball game Wednesday night at the Events Center. In front of a season-high home crowd of 2,686, the Bearcats established a 20-point halftime cushion and snapped a three-game slide with the lopsided win.

With four different players contributing points in the game's first 5:39, BU jumped out to a 13-2 lead as the Seawolves misfired on seven of their first eight shots and committed four turnovers. Stony Brook made just 4-of-22 shots in the first half and turned the ball over 12 times in the period and 19 for the game.

Junior guard Andre Heard (Oklahoma City, Okla.) scored 12 of his game-high 19 points in the opening frame, and added five rebounds and three steals. In his best performance of the season, senior center Nick Billings (Kodiak, Alaska) contributed 14 points, eight rebounds and four blocks. His inside presence on the defensive end was a key factor in the visitor's struggles out of the gate. In his first start of the season, freshman point guard Mike Gordon (Plainfield, N.J.) chipped in seven points and two assists in 25 minutes.

"The defense was strong and Nick (Billings) played his best game by far this year," head coach Al Walker said. "I really felt that Mike (Gordon) gave us a sense of comfort in regard to taking care of the basketball. Mike is our most comfortable guard handling the pressure and the more minutes he plays the better we will be in the long run."

Stony Brook received 17 points from senior forward Jairus McCollum.

Binghamton now hits the road for a Saturday night contest at UMBC.