VESTAL, N.Y. - Visiting Stony Brook (4-4, 2-0 America East) scored 16 points in overtime to pull away from Binghamton (0-5, 0-2 AE) 80-70 in an America East men's basketball game Sunday afternoon at Dr. Bai Lee Court at the Events Center.

For the third time in five games this season, the Bearcats had a possession to win the game in the closing minute. But even at 64-64, a BU turnover and two subsequent Stony Brook misses on the offensive end necessitated an overtime period. There, the Seawolves made 3-of-6 shots, including a pair of 3-pointers, and hit 8-of-10 free throws to secure the weekend sweep in the first America East series of the season.

Sophomore forward George Tinsley led the Bearcats with 16 points and eight rebounds in 42 minutes of work. Classmates Brenton Mills and Dan Petcash added 14 points apiece and sophomore center Ogheneyole Akuwovo chipped in 10 points and six rebounds. 

Down 45-41 with 11:49 to play, BU went on a 12-3 run to take its first lead of the game. Petcash had five points during the run, which gave the Bearcats a 53-48 margin with 7:46 left in regulation. Minutes later, Mills hit a tough step-back jumper that gave BU a 59-55 edge with 3:49 remaining. But the Seawolves took advantage of the bonus and made 6-of-6 free throws in a 1:34 span to offset another Petcash 3 and knot the score at 64-64. Neither team scored in the final two minutes. Binghamton missed its only field goal attempt, had a front-end miss at the line and the final-posession turnover. Stony Brook committed two turnovers before holding for the final shot of regulation. After the initial floater in the lane was well long, Akuwovo got a piece of the follow attempt just before the horn sounded, keeping the Bearcats alive for an extra five-minute session. But BU made just 3-of-11 shots in overtime.  

"I was proud of our effort today," head coach Tommy Dempsey said. "We're searching for a win and I think it creates some stress down the stretch of these games ... but I thought we had a winning formula today. We competed and played very well. The difference between winning and losing is such a fine line ... we are one play away from talking about what a great bounce-back win it was after playing poorly yesterday. Today was a heck of an effort by our group and I felt like we deserved to win. We're still learning how to win and we have another opportunity on Tuesday."

The Bearcats were slow out of the gate and trailed 17-5 five minutes into the game. But an 11-0 run brought them back into the game. The team hit four 3s during the run - part of a season-high 11 for the game. Binghamton trailed 32-28 at half and played from behind until Tinsley hit a jumper in the lane to give BU its first lead, 46-45, with 10:40 left. 

Binghamton hosts Central Connecticut State in a non-conference game at 4 p.m. on Tuesday at the Events Center. 

Courtesy: Binghamton University Athletics