Stony Brook too much to handle for BU

1/9/2013 (Updated 11:07:11 PM)

VESTAL -- Binghamton mens basketball (2-14, 0-3 AE) held visiting Stony Brook (11-4, 2-0 AE) to 37 percent shooting but the Bearcats couldnt mount a consistent offense and fell 62-37 in an America East game Wednesday night at the Events Center.

The teams each shot under 27 percent during the first half but after building a nine-point halftime cushion, the Seawolves converted 48 percent in the second half to pull away.

It was a tough night ... we just couldnt get anything going offensively, head coach Tommy Dempsey said. We worked hard and played an active, physical zone but eventually Stony Brook got separation. Thats arguably the best team in the conference and if you had told me we would hold them to 37 percent shooting and force them to shoot 29 three-pointers, I would take it. But we couldnt put the ball in the basket. Credit their stingy defense too. Nobody got it going tonight but we got decent looks. We wouldve had to play a really good game to win tonight and obviously we didnt do that.

Both teams started slow but the Bearcats led 10-6 7:10 into the contest. Junior center Roland Brown cashed in a pair of jumpers, senior guard Jimmy Gray drilled a three-pointer and freshman guard Jordan Reed added a three-point play to give BU the early four-point lead. With both teams misfiring and the clock moving along, BU led 12-11 with under seven minutes left in the half. Stony Brook outscored Binghamton 17-4 the rest of the period, however, as the Bearcats managed just two field goals (2-for-15) over the final 12:50. Binghamton had five misses in the final 1:08 of the half and trailed 23-14 at the break.

Stony Brook extended its lead to double figures less than three minutes into the second half but a three-pointer from junior guard Rayner Moquete brought BU to within seven, 31-24, with 13:47 remaining. But an ensuing 14-2 Seawolves run put the game out of reach, 45-26, with 10:08 left. Senior guard Marcus Rouse hit a pair of three-pointers in the run, which spanned 3:39. Stony Brook led by as many as 30 points before settling on the final 25-point margin.

The Bearcats converted just 2-of-16 from beyond the arc while the Seawolves hit 10 of their three-bids. The rebound battle was nearly even with Stony Brook holding a 40-39 edge.
For the first time this season, no Binghamton player reached double-digits. Gray had a team-high eight points to go with six rebounds and four assists. Reed, who entered the game ranked No. 1 in the America East in rebounding (9.9 rpg.) and No. 2 in scoring (16.6 ppg.), was limited to seven points and eight rebounds.

Stony Brook put three players in double figures, led by freshman forward Jameel Warney, who scored a game-high 13 points with eight boards.

Binghamton next plays at Boston University at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

(Courtesy BU Athletics)