VESTAL, N.Y. – The Binghamton Bearcats faced a tough start to their conference season, losing to NJIT 73-65 on Saturday afternoon. Despite leading for most of the first half and having a three-point advantage at halftime, they struggled with rebounding and scoring in the second half.
Binghamton started strong, going into halftime with a 37-34 lead. However, they fell behind after NJIT went on a 19-5 run, putting the Highlanders up by 10 late in the game. Binghamton managed to cut the deficit to six points twice in the last few minutes, but it wasn’t enough.
The Bearcats were missing key player Demetrius Lilley due to injury. They also had two starters, including point guard Jeremiah Quigley, in foul trouble. Quigley, who usually leads the America East in assists, spent much of the second half on the bench. He finished with five assists but only played 22 minutes, far below his average.
Head coach Levell Sanders pointed out the importance of rebounding in the game. Binghamton gave up 12 offensive boards, which allowed NJIT to score 14 second-chance points. The Bearcats shot well at first, but missed chances at the rim hurt their momentum.
Junior guard Ryan Richardson led Binghamton with 16 points, while junior forward Bryson Wilson added 15. In an interesting turn, Binghamton shot 65% in the first half but only managed to get off 15 fewer shots than their opponents by the end of the game.
Looking ahead, Binghamton will need to regroup for a tough matchup against Vermont. This next challenge could bring an opportunity to bounce back from their current struggles and improve their game on both ends of the court. As they prepare, fans and analysts will be watching how the Bearcats adjust and whether they can capitalize on their strengths.
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