Dempsey’s series of basketball camps coined, ‘Net Results’ offers area youths the chance to learn the game from his staff and players. The program has a proven record of individual improvement and enhancing one’s knowledge of the game. Coach Dempsey has constructed a camp designed to develop players by using methods he and his staff employ at the Division I level. Both skill and educational sessions will be provided for all camps.

The first of Dempsey’s two instructional forums is a day camp held from June 24-28. The camp is open to all boys ages 8-16 and will run from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily. The cost of the camp is $250 with registration beginning on the first day of camp (June 24) at 9 a.m. in the Events Center. During the five-day session, campers will be divided into leagues based on age and ability. On day one, players will be drafted onto teams and assigned a coach for the week. A game schedule will then be created for a week full of competition. Parents are welcome to attend the camp and spectate.

Dempsey will hold his ‘Elite Prospect Camp’ from August 2-4. The three-day overnight camp is open to boys grades 7th-12th and costs $150 for day campers and $250 for overnight campers. The ‘Elite Prospect Camp’ is for 7th-12th graders who are looking to further their skills and play at the collegiate level. The camp is a perfect place to showcase one’s skill and abilities as well as learn what it takes to be an intercollegiate student-athlete. 

For more information regarding the camps please contact Binghamton Director of Basketball Operations Herb Courtney at hcourt@binghamton.edu or 607-777-2118.

CAMP SCHEDULE
Boys Day Camp: June 24-28
Elite Prospect Camp: August 2-4

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VESTAL, N.Y.—Fans can follow Binghamton head men’s basketball coach Tommy Dempsey on Twitter throughout the 2012-13 year.

Dempsey, a 38-year-old Scranton, Pa. native, was hired in May. He previously served as head coach for seven years at Rider University (N.J.). Dempsey guided the Broncs to national postseason tournaments in three of the last five years and his teams averaged 17 wins per season during his tenure.

The Bearcats open their 2012-13 season with an exhibition game against Susquehanna on November 3 at the Events Center. The team will be introduced to fans at Late Night Madness on October 12.

VESTAL, N.Y.—Freshman guard Jordan Reed has been selected to the Mid-Major Freshman All-American Team by CollegeInsider.com. The website honored 21 players from across the country who play in the 23 Mid-Major conferences listed below. 

The national rookie honor comes after two other websites selected Reed as the top rookie in the America East. After leading the conference in rebounding (9.5 rpg.) and finishing second in scoring (16.6 ppg.), Reed was selected as the conference Rookie of the Year by both College Sports Madness and College Hoops Daily.

Reed capped a remarkable freshman season with numerous records and accolades. He became just the second freshman in the America East’s 34-year year history to lead the conference in rebounding and at 6-foot-4, is the shortest player to do so. He came within three points of grabbing the scoring crown as well. Reed is the only first-year player in league history to finish in the top-2 in each category.

On the national level, he is one of just four players to rank in the top-2 in their conference in both scoring and rebounding - and the only freshman. Reed ranked 24th in the country with 13 double-doubles and was 27th in rebounding. He is the only player 6-foot-4 or smaller to appear in the nation’s top 100 rebounders and his average was third-best among all guards across the country. Among freshmen, Reed was sixth in scoring and second in rebounding.

At Binghamton, Reed broke school records for rebounds in a game (18 vs. St. Peter’s on Nov. 18) and season (266). His 13 double-doubles were also a school record and the most of any guard in the country.

The America East coaches voted Reed a third-team all-star.

CollegeInsider.com lists the following as Mid-Major conferences (alphabetically): America East, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Colonial, Great West, Horizon, Independents, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, Mid-Eastern, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, Southwestern, Summit, Sun Belt, WAC, West Coast.

VESTAL, N.Y.—Freshman guard Jordan Reed has been recognized as the top rookie in the America East by two separate online websites. After leading the conference in rebounding (9.5 rpg.) and finishing second in scoring (16.6 ppg.), Reed was selected as the conference Rookie of the Year by both College Sports Madness and College Hoops Daily.

Madness also had Reed on its all-conference first team and College Hoops Daily’s Jon Teitel gave Reed distinction as both the Rookie of the Year and the Player of the Year.

Reed capped a remarkable freshman season with numerous records and accolades. He became just the second freshman in the league’s 34-year year history to lead the America East in rebounding and at 6-foot-4, is the shortest player to do so. He came within three points of grabbing the scoring crown as well. Reed is the only first-year player in league history to finish in the top-2 in each category.

On the national level, he is one of just four players to rank in the top-2 in their conference in both scoring and rebounding - and the only freshman. Reed ranks 21st in the country with 13 double-doubles and is 28th in rebounding. He is the only player 6-foot-4 or smaller to appear in the nation’s top 100 rebounders. Among freshmen across the country, Reed is sixth in scoring and second in rebounding.

At Binghamton, Reed broke school records for rebounds in a game (18 vs. St. Peter’s on Nov. 18) and season (266). His 13 double-doubles were also a school record and the most of any guard in the country.

The America East coaches voted Reed a third-team all-star.

ALBANY, N.Y. – Freshman guard Jordan Reed has been voted third team all-conference by the America East men’s basketball coaches. The conference recognized its all-star teams and major award winners at a reception Friday evening on Albany’s campus. The event kicked off the America East Championship on the men’s side, which includes BU’s quarterfinal matchup against top-seeded Stony Brook at 6 p.m. on Saturday at SEFCU Arena.

Reed, who leads the entire conference in rebounding (9.6 rpg.) and ranks second in scoring (16.7 ppg.) also was named to the All-Rookie team. He is the first BU freshman to earn America East all-conference honors in the school’s 12-year membership.

“I’m proud of Jordan,” head coach Tommy Dempsey said. “He’s had a tremendous freshman season and I think not winning Rookie of the Year will motivate him heading into the off-season. His future is very bright.”

Reed leads the conference with 13 double-doubles, which ranks 15th nationally. He is still bidding to become the first freshman in the 34-year history of the America East to win both the scoring and rebounding statistical categories. Heading into the postseason, Reed (16.66) trails Maine’s Justin Edwards (16.67) by mere percentage points in the scoring race. Among freshmen, Reed ranks fifth in the country in scoring and second in rebounding (25th overall). He is the only player 6-foot-4 or smaller to be among the nation’s top-100 in rebounding.

Currently, Reed is among four players across the country to rank in the top-2 in their conference in both scoring and rebounding.

In 2012-13, Reed broke the school’s single-game (18) and single-season (258) rebound marks. He has scored in double-figures in 26 of 27 collegiate games and led the entire America East in Player of the Game honors (9).

Reed is the first Bearcat to earn all-conference honors since Mahamoud Jabbi was a third-team selection in 2010-11. He also is the third Binghamton All-Rookie selection in the last four years (Dylan Talley in 2009-10 and Ben Dickinson in 2011-12) and is the 18th BU player to earn America East honors. 

Below is the list of Binghamton’s America East All-Conference selections since the school joined the league in 2001.

2001-02
Jeffrey St. Fort, 3rd Team
Nick Billings, All-Rookie
2002-03
Anthony Green, 1st Team
Nick Billings, 2nd Team, Defensive Player of Year
2003-04
Nick Billings, 2nd Team
Brandon Carter, 3rd Team
Troy Hailey, All-Rookie
2004-05
Andre Heard, 2nd Team
2005-06
Andre Heard, 1st Team, All-Defensive
Sebastian Hermenier, 2nd Team, All-Defensive
Mike Gordon, 3rd Team, All-Defensive
2006-07
Mike Gordon, 2nd Team, All-Defensive
Lazar Trifunovic, All-Rookie
2007-08
Mike Gordon, 2nd Team, All-Defensive
Lazar Trifunovic, 3rd Team
2008-09
Emanuel Mayben, 2nd Team
D.J. Rivera, 2nd Team
Reggie Fuller, 3rd Team, All-Defensive
2009-10
Greer Wright, 1st Team
Dylan Talley, 3rd Team, Rookie of Year, All-Rookie
2010-11
Mahamoud Jabbi, 3rd Team, All-Defensive
2011-12
Ben Dickinson, All-Rookie
2012-13
Jordan Reed, 3rd Team, All-Rookie

ALBANY, N.Y. - The Binghamton men’s basketball team fell to top-seeded Stony Brook 72-49 in the quarterfinals of the America East Tournament, Saturday night at Albany’s SEFCU Arena. The Seawolves shot 53 percent and forced 15 Bearcat turnovers en route to the 23-point victory. Binghamton was led by freshman Jordan Reed’s game-high 16 points.

“First of all congratulations to Stony Brook for moving on to the next round,” head coach Tommy Dempsey said. “They are a great team and were hitting on all cylinders tonight. I think we just dug ourselves too big of a hole early when our shots weren’t falling. But my kids fought hard and did what they’ve done all year and that’s represent Binghamton with pride. I’m very proud of my guys, but the better team won tonight.”

Stony Brook, who is fifth in the nation in field goal percentage defense, stymied the Bearcats to 40 percent shooting while committing just five turnovers. The Seawolves were in command throughout as Binghamton valiantly tried to chip away at the large halftime deficit. However, Stony Brook exceeded its first half shooting percentage by pouring in 58 percent of its shots in the second half. The Seawolves lead grew to as many as 31 in the final 30 minutes of play.

Reed was blanketed by two-time America East Defensive Player of the Year Tommy Brenton whenever the two were on the floor and double-teamed much of the night. The recently named third team all conference selection still managed 6-of-13 shooting while going a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Reed collected eight rebounds in 38 minutes of action.

Seniors Jimmy Gray and Taylor Johnston added 13 and 11, respectively for the Bearcats. Johnston scored all 13 of his points in the second half, as the duo combined for six second-half three pointers.

In the first half Binghamton shot 30 percent (7-for-23) from the floor scoring just 14 points. The Bearcats failed to hit a single three-pointer, going 0-for-8 from downtown, while Stony Brook connected from beyond the arc four times to shoot 48 percent in the opening 20 minutes. The Seawolves opened a 10-point lead midway through the half, but a Reed jumper cut the lead to eight, the closest BU would get.

Stony Brook stepped up its defensive pressure holding the Bearcats scoreless for over seven minutes while extending its lead to 20 (32-12) at the 2:03 mark. The highlight of the half for Binghamton was an alley-oop from Gray to Reed, which ended the Binghamton drought with 48 seconds left in the half. Stony Brook used 10 second-chance points to close the half on a 15-2 run and take a 37-14 lead in to the break.The Seawolves made 13 trips to the free throw line while Binghamton did not take one attempt. Reed scored 10 of Binghamton’s 14 first-half points.

Stony Brook put four players in double figures led by Anthony Jackson’s 16.

Binghamton’s all-time America East Tournament record fell to 7-8 in nine appearances and 0-2 against Stony Brook. The two teams also met in last year’s quarterfinal round with the Seawolves prevailing 78-69.

BALTIMORE, Md. – Host UMBC (7-22, 5-11 AE) hit 12 three-pointers and eased past cold-shooting Binghamton (3-26, 1-15 AE) 59-49 in the regular-season finale for both teams Sunday afternoon at the RAC Arena. The Bearcats will now carry the No. 8 seed in an America East tournament quarterfinal game against regular-season champion and top-seeded Stony Brook. The game is set for 6 p.m. Saturday at Albany’s SEFCU Arena.

Senior guard Ryan Cook poured in a game-high 24 points and the Retrievers benefited from 20 turnovers and 34 percent Bearcats shooting.

Senior forward Taylor Johnston led BU with 16 points, 10 in the first half. Freshman guard Jordan Reed produced his league-leading 13th double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds and junior center Brian Freeman chipped in eight points, nine rebounds and three blocks.

“Overall we didn’t play very well,” head coach Tommy Dempsey said. “Give UMBC credit … they stepped up and made a lot of big shots, especially their seniors. Our energy in the zone was good but their top two shooters (Cook and Brian Neller) hit shots in crucial times. As a group, we made poor decisions against their zone and that caused a lot of turnovers.”

The Bearcats were within striking distance halfway through the second period. Reed made a pair of free throws with 10 minutes remaining to pull BU to within two, 42-40. But Neller (17 pts.) made two threes in a 1:15 span and the Retrievers outscored the Bearcats 17-9 to end the game. 

In the first half, senior forward Taylor Johnston hit a pair of 3s and scored 10 points to pace BU’s offense. Johnston scored five points in a 19-second span to spark a 7-0 run that gave the Bearcats a 14-9 lead eight minutes into the contest. But after hitting 7-of-13 to start the game (54%), BU shot just 3-of-14 the rest of the half and 11 turnovers resulted in 12 UMBC points. The Retrievers hit a three-pointer at the halftime buzzer to cap an 8-2 run and take a 26-25 lead into intermission.

Binghamton begins its postseason run with a quarterfinal matchup against fellow SUNY Center Stony Brook Saturday at Albany’s SEFCU Arena. It will mark the second straight year that the two SUNY schools have met in the quarterfinals. Last season, BU shot 50 percent, drilled 10 three-pointers and led in the second half before the top-seeded Seawolves prevailed 78-69.

NOTES
Johnston and Cook were named the America East Players of the Game … Reed kept his conference-leading rebound average at 9.5 but dipped percentage points behind Maine’s Justin Edwards in the scoring race. Edwards netted 29 points in his game to move to 16.67 ppg. Reed’s average dropped to 16.66 ppg.

America East Championship
Saturday, March 9 - Quarterfinals
#2 Vermont vs. #7 New Hampshire, 12 p.m. (ESPN3/WatchESPN)
#3 Hartford vs. #6 UMBC, 2 p.m.* (ESPN3/WatchESPN)
#1 Stony Brook vs. #8 Binghamton, 6 p.m. (ESPN3/WatchESPN)
#4 Albany vs. #5 Maine, 8 p.m.* (ESPN3/WatchESPN)

Sunday, March 10 - Semifinals
Vermont-New Hampshire Winner vs. Hartford-UMBC Winner, 5 p.m. - (ESPN3/WatchESPN)
Stony Brook-Binghamton Winner vs. Albany-Maine winner, 7 p.m.* - (ESPN3/WatchESPN)

Saturday, March 16 - Title Game
Semifinal Winners, 11:30 a.m. - (ESPN2/WatchESPN)

*time approximate. Second game of session will begin 30 minutes following the conclusion of the prior game.

VESTAL, N.Y.—Visiting Vermont (19-9, 11-4 AE) shot 58 percent in the second half and used its size advantage to pull away for a 78-61 win over Binghamton (3-25, 1-14 AE) in an America East men’s basketball game Thursday night at the Events Center.

On Senior Night, head coach Tommy Dempsey started his four seniors and the Bearcats jumped out to an 18-11 lead eight minutes into the contest. But the Catamounts used a 22-8 advantage in points in the paint to take a 30-28 lead at intermission. Then the visitors shot an efficient 58 percent in the second half and put 48 points on the board to win going away.

“We played well for much of the game but Vermont is a lot bigger and they stepped up and made shots and played like a veteran team that expects to win,” Dempsey said. “I thought we did some good things tonight and we fought and never went away. But they played an excellent second half. We are playing better basketball ... to not turn the ball over the entire second half was positive.”

Freshman guard Jordan Reed, who continues to lead the America East in both scoring (16.9 ppg.) and rebounding (9.5), netted 13 of his game-high 18 points in the second half as the Bearcats tried to keep pace. Reed hit a jumper with 17:02 remaining that knotted the score at 37-37 - the last time BU was even on the scoreboard. Vermont then embarked on an 11-2 run that featured two layups and a pair of three-pointers in a 1:56 span. A three-point play from Reed stemmed the tide and brought BU to within six, 48-42, with 14:46 to play but the Catamounts countered with another three-pointer and stretched their lead to double-figures midway through the period. The Bearcats made one final push and senior guard Jimmy Gray’s three-pointer with 6:20 remaining brought BU to within seven, 62-55. But Vermont outscored Binghamton 16-6 to end the game.

Reed hit 7-of-16 and pulled down nine rebounds in 39 minutes. Gray hit 4-of-8 from three-point range and wound up with 16 points, three assists and two steals. Senior forward Javon Ralling netted 11 points with five boards and classmate Taylor Johnston used a rare four-point play to get to his game total of seven points. Binghamton’s final senior, Mike Horn, chipped in two steals and three rebounds in his regular stalwart defensive game.

Vermont put three players in double figures, led by junior forward Clancy Rugg, who netted 17 points. For the game, Vermont outscored Binghamton 38-14 in the paint. The Catamounts converted 14-of-16 free throws in the pivotal second half.

Binghamton finishes out the regular season Sunday afternoon at UMBC. The Bearcats are locked into the No. 8 seed for the upcoming America East tournament and will face regular-season champion and top-seeded Stony Brook in a quarterfinal game on March 9 in Albany.

NOTES
Reed and Rugg were selected as the America East Players of the Game ... Reed bumped up his scoring average one-tenth and kept his rebound average the same with his performance. He is attempting to become the first freshman in the league’s 34-year history to lead the conference in both scoring and rebounding. Despite falling short of recording his fifth straight double-double, Reed broke the school single-season rebound record (Division I), set by Mahamoud Jabbi in 2010-11 (241). Reed now has 246 on the season ... Before the game, BU honored its four seniors and Gray took the microphone to address the crowd of 2,669. 

VESTAL, N.Y.—Titled “Bearcats on the Rise, ” CBS affiliate WBNG-TV completed a four-part in-depth series on the Binghamton men’s basketball program and its rebuilding process under first-year head coach Tommy Dempsey.

Action News sports director Travis Eldridge and veteran reporter Gabe Osterhout developed the feature, which ran during the last week of February.

VESTAL, N.Y.—When he takes the floor on Thursday in the final home game of his four-year career, men’s basketball senior captain Jimmy Gray will bookend a collegiate career that began in modest fashion on November 14, 2009. In his first game in the Events Center after a stellar scholastic career at Binghamton High, Gray logged two nondescript minutes in a win over Division II Bloomsburg. So much has transpired in the 3-1/2 years since that debut: Gray, the basketball player, has grown exponentially during a trying yet rewarding tenure at Binghamton; Gray, the young man, has grown even more.

In four years, he has worked with three head coaches and nine assistant coaches. He has played through injuries that would’ve shelved most others. He has absorbed the losses. Lots of them. And he has willingly met the media and answered the same questions after each setback, embracing a leadership role with unwavering integrity and class. Gray has seen the complete dismantling and rebuilding of the men’s basketball program under the guidance of three different athletic directors. Players have come and gone. But Gray has stayed. And endured. And matured.

Rewind the clock to the spring of 2009 when then-high school senior Gray completed a noteworthy career for the Binghamton High Patriots. He averaged 21.1 points as a senior and steered his team to sectional runner-up honors, earning All-Metro Player of the Year and all-state honors. Gray drained 70 three-pointers and torched defenses despite a reputation that resulted in full attention from every opponent.

By June, Gray was still undecided on his college choice, weighing some Division II and III options. At the time, he spoke with longtime Press & Sun-Bulletin reporter Kevin Stevens about his future goals.

“I want to play at the highest level I can play,” he told Stevens. “I want to be where there are smarter, better athletes, that’ll give me something to strive for. I want to be around people who are better than me, so I can strive to be better than them.”

Drastic changes accompany freshman year
With then-BU coach Kevin Broadus eying local talent to round out his reigning America East championship team roster, Gray was invited to join the program as a non-scholarship player. Little did he know that two months into college, the landscape of his playing career would change dramatically. Less than four weeks before the 2009-10 season began, Broadus and four starters were removed from the program and Gray bumped up the depth chart, now for interim coach Mark Macon. Still, with veteran guard Chretien Lukusa and budding star Dylan Talley in the backcourt and a nagging back injury front and center, Gray’s minutes were moderate. He appeared in 23 games and averaged under eight minutes per game. A 13-win season that featured an overachieving fifth-place conference finish ended on a sour note when the Bearcats were denied participation in the America East tournament just hours before boarding the team bus.

Gray recalls the many challenges from that first year on campus.

“I remember how hard a transition it was from being a high school student to a college student,” he said. “Both the academics and the basketball workouts were challenging. But whether or not I was getting playing time, I knew that my work ethic would eventually guide me to improve my game and focus in the classroom. With the issues surrounding the team that year, I had to take advantage of the opportunity for more playing time, and I did.”

As a sophomore, Gray moved into a more prominent role. He took over as a starter 12 games into the season and accumulated 203 points (6.5 ppg) while averaging nearly 28 minutes a game.
Included were several shining performances in front of the Events Center faithful: a 23-point performance against UMBC (5-for-8 three-pointers) and a 12-assist, 10-point double-double against Maine. Gray shot 44 percent from beyond the arc in his last 16 games and stepped up his production in conference play, averaging 8.1 points while logging nearly 33 minutes a game.

Lukusa, who was wrapping up his own impressive four-year career, noticed the change in Gray.

“When Jimmy first came in, you could tell he already had a good skill base,” Lukusa recalled. “But as the years went on and he got more comfortable, Jimmy definitely began to mature as a basketball player. Seeing how hard he worked and the time he dedicated to becoming a better player ... that pushed me on the days I didn’t want to practice or lift weights.”

Gray, in turn, took notice of Lukusa and other veteran players like Moussa Camara, Mahamoud Jabbi and Greer Wright.

“Those guys all were competitive players who pushed me every day and allowed me to become the player I have matured into today,” Gray said. “They also had good character and were good role models off the court. They taught me that education should be my focus and that basketball would take care of itself.”

As Gray was emerging as a quality America East point guard and team leader in his sophomore season, his surrounding parts were still in flux. Talley departed after collecting America East Rookie of the Year honors and, with several other roster depletions, the 2010-11 Bearcats finished the season with just eight recruited scholarship players and only eight wins. Gray secured one of those wins with a dramatic jumper in the final five seconds to beat Manhattan on the road. The team then showed its heart with a resounding 91-65 win over UMBC in the first round of the America East tournament, with Gray logging 34 minutes at the point.

In 2011-12, Gray was fully entrenched as a starter and, for the first year, as a scholarship player — and his game blossomed. With two years’ experience, he ran BU’s offense with precision and distributed and scored the basketball. He averaged 8.4 points, 3.6 assists and a conference-best 1.9 steals despite playing at times with three freshmen in the starting lineup.

Gray handles media attention with class
Serving as the “face” of the program, however, came with its hardships. As the team suffered through a winless streak that drew national attention, Gray, along with leading scorer Robert Mansell, kept up a routine that was both physically and emotionally draining. After logging more than 34 minutes a game, Gray would trudge to the media room and diligently answer questions about the latest defeat and the mindset of the team as the losses mounted. This is where Gray shined brightest. Amid any personal frustration, fatigue and injury, he spoke about standing tall as a team, pressing on and working as hard as possible. Never did he offer an excuse, though there were plenty of valid ones on an undermanned team handicapped by previous circumstances.

On the court, Gray continued his penchant for late-game dramatics. His pair of free throws with four seconds remaining sealed BU’s 57-53 upset of league-leading Vermont on February 21 — a win that snapped the team’s suffocating 27-game losing streak. Fans swarmed the Events Center floor to celebrate — the same way they shared the sweetness of BU’s conference championship game win three years earlier. It must have been bittersweet for Gray, who invested so much more in a 2-win season than many players put forth in 20-win campaigns.

Eight days later, Gray netted eight points in overtime and played the entire 45 minutes to lift the Bearcats to a 73-67 win over UMBC in the first round of the America East tournament. Gray calmly sank three free throws in the final 19 seconds to preserve the win. He capped his junior season with 16 points and nine assists in 40 gritty minutes against top-seeded Stony Brook.

For the season, Gray played nearly 35 minutes a game, fourth-most in the America East. Another off-season meant another change for Gray and the Bearcats, as a change in leadership brought in head coach Tommy Dempsey in spring 2012. Dempsey quickly leaned on Gray to help anchor the group of returning players and begin the process of breathing new life into the program.

Senior captain helps usher in Dempsey era
“I cannot tell you how much I appreciate Jimmy Gray,” Dempsey said. “His character and leadership qualities have helped my transition tremendously. I wish I had more time to coach Jimmy but I know he will be very successful moving forward.”

Gray embraced the captain reins in 2012-13, but even with the addition of freshman phenom Jordan Reed, the wins have been hard to come by. Despite battling through injuries and still going full speed for an exhausting 34 minutes a game, Gray has maintained his production and leadership. He is averaging 10.4 points and 3.4 assists and provided yet another signature moment with a game-winning three-pointer to beat Maine on Jan. 19.

Gray is scheduled to address the home crowd on Senior Night and he will no doubt be gracious and appreciative to the home fans — a loyal mass that has translated into nine consecutive America East attendance crowns for Binghamton. But on this night, it’s Gray, along with fellow seniors Taylor Johnston, Javon Ralling and Mike Horn, who will be celebrated.

With the finish line now in sight, Gray is on pace to finish third in career games played at Binghamton (112). He also ranks second in three other statistical categories: assists (284), three- pointers (154) and steals (140). Those numbers alone are enough to cement Gray’s legacy at Binghamton. But they don’t begin to define his impact on the program. When others went astray, he stood firm. When teammates left for greener pastures, he stayed put. When it would’ve been understandable for Gray to waive the white flag and “check out” mentally, he instead strengthened his resolve.

“I have thicker skin now,” he says.

“Jimmy was right there with us in the trenches,” Lukusa said of his overlapping two years with Gray. “He learned from the entire experience and has matured into a player who demands respect and leads by example. Because of that, I know he will be successful wherever his future plans take him.”

“Genuine” young man draws praise
Gray’s journey from walk-on player to scholarship captain with all-star credentials is a unique and inspiring story — one that wasn’t lost on former Binghamton High alumnus, North Carolina great and current Monmouth University coach King Rice, whose team came to Vestal in December.

“I’m proud of Jimmy,” Rice said. “Jimmy has done things not many people thought he could do. He had a dream of being a Division I basketball player ... and he’s been a pretty doggone good
one.”

But to define Gray as a basketball player-only would be shortsighted.

“Off the court, Jimmy is an extremely genuine person,” adds Lukusa. “He is willing to go the extra mile to help out his teammates or anyone in the community, whether it’s at the Boys & Girls Club or Magic Paintbrush or wherever ... on his own ... just putting in the time. That’s who he is. ”

Sports enthusiasts like to tout the lasting impact that participation can have on young men and women. Gray’s checklist of life lessons and personal growth is far more complete than that of most 23-year-olds: Handle adversity with integrity. Own your shortcomings and try to be better every day. Remain positive. Lead by example. Communicate. Be fair, honest and genuine. Win and lose with class. Strive for greatness. Don’t accept failure. Care for others and be a good citizen. On that stat sheet, Gray went a perfect 10-for-10.

“I’ve learned there is no gain without struggle,” he said. “I believe life is all about work ethic, no matter what your passion or career is. I’ve had challenges within the basketball program and in the classroom. But it’s how you handle those that’s important. I’ve had a great experience at Binghamton.”

With his hometown fans serving as a nightly backdrop, something special happened during Gray’s four-year journey at Binghamton. He taught us a thing or two about the intrinsic value of intercollegiate athletics and the depth of his own character. That is the legacy of Jimmy Gray.

VESTAL, N.Y.—Binghamton first-year head coach Tommy Dempsey has a big building block in place as he begins to rebuild the Bearcats’ men’s basketball program.

Freshman standout Jordan Reed leads the entire America East in both scoring (16.8 ppg.) and rebounding (9.5 rpg.) and earned his sixth weekly honor of the season with another top rookie selection on Monday.

Reed poured in game-highs of 24 points and 16 rebounds in BU’s 68-56 loss at New Hampshire on Saturday - his fourth straight double-double and league-leading 12th of the season. 

WNBG-TV sat down with Reed recently to discuss his rookie season and both his and the program’s bright future.

“This is an up-and-coming place,” Reed told WBNG’s Gabe Osterhout. “I definitely invested in Binghamton and I know this investment will be worth a lot.”

Dempsey also spoke of the excitement of reinvigorating the program with young talent. 

“Kids want to make an impact in their college programs and I also think kids want to play right away,” he said. “I think there’s opportunity to play right away here and we’ve tried to sell our vision of what we think the program’s going to be like. We’ve been able to get a good group of kids bought into that.”

Reed 2012-13 Accomplishments (as of Feb. 25)
• Leading scorer (16.8 ppg.) and rebounder (9.5 rpg.) in America East
• Bidding to become first freshman in 34-year history of conference to lead in both statistical categories
• Only four other players in league history have led league in both scoring and rebounding and all went on to play professionally:
Reggie Lewis, Northeastern, 1985-86, junior season
Greg Smith, Delaware, 1996-97, senior season
Taylor Coppenrath, Vermont, 2004-05, senior season
Marqus Blakely, Vermont, 2007-08, sophomore season
• Leads America East with 12 double-doubles (4 in a row)
• Ranks 16th in nation in double-doubles (1st among guards and 2nd among freshmen) and 26th in rebounds
• Has highest rebound average in nation among players 6-foot-4 or smaller and third-most among guards
• Ranks 7th in NCAA in scoring and 2nd in rebounding among freshmen
• Set school freshman scoring record (421 pts.) and is 5 away from setting school all-class rebound record (currently at 237)
• In last 5 games is averaging 20.2 points and 12.6 rebounds
• Has 7 games with 20 or more points and 3 games with 15 or more rebounds
• Six-time America East Rookie of the Week (school record)
• Has led Binghamton in scoring in 20 of 25 games played
• Has scored in double figures in 24 of 25 games played
• Broke school’s single-game rebound record with 18 rebs. vs. St. Peter’s on Nov. 18 (3rd collegiate game)
• Produced 15 points and 11 rebounds in collegiate debut vs. Navy on Nov. 14
• Broke school’s single-game offensive rebound record with 10 offensive rebounds vs. Maine on Feb. 16
• Broke school’s single-game defensive rebound record with 14 defensive rebounds vs. New Hampshire on Feb. 23
• Scored season-high 29 points vs. Maine on Feb. 16
• Averaging 34.9 minutes per game (3rd in America East)
• Has hit 9 or more FG in five games including season-high 10 vs. Monmouth (Dec. 3) and 10 vs. Maine (Jan. 19)
• Converted 9 or more FT four times, including season-high 11 (11-of-15) vs. Maine (Feb. 16) and 9-of-9 accuracy vs. Boston University (Feb. 9)
• Had season-high 5 assists vs. Hartford (Feb. 6) and New Hampshire (Feb. 23)
• Shooting 42% from inside arc for season

DURHAM, N.H. – Host New Hampshire (8-18, 4-10 AE) used a barrage of three-pointers midway through the second half to overtake Binghamton (3-24, 1-13 AE) 68-56 in an America East men’s basketball game Saturday evening at Lundholm Gym.

The host Wildcats outscored BU 42-22 in the pivotal second half and despite missing 15 free throws, made 6-of-8 in the final 1:55 to seal the win. Binghamton hit just 8-of-24 in the second half (33%), including 1-of-7 from beyond the arc. New Hampshire enjoyed a 23-11 disparity in fouls called.

Shining brightly in the loss was freshman guard Jordan Reed, bidding to make history as the season winds down. Reed extended his lead in the America East scoring and rebounding categories with game-highs of 24 points and 16 rebounds. No freshman has ever led both categories in the league’s 34-year history. Over his last five games, Reed is averaging 20.2 points and 12.6 rebounds.

New Hampshire struck for five three-pointers in a 3:06 span and turned a 40-33 deficit into a double-digit lead thanks to a 24-6 run. Binghamton led by as many as 11 points in the first half and took an eight-point cushion into the break. But with BU ahead 40-33 five minutes into the second half, UNH made a sudden surge. Forward Patrick Konan nailed three threes in a 1:22 span and guard Scott Morris drilled two more in a 47-second span to stretch the hosts’ lead to 57-46 with 5:38 left.

“I thought we didn’t take care of the backboards in the second half and that was the difference,” head coach Tommy Dempsey said. “Konan hit some big shots but we didn’t keep our energy up in the second half. We couldn’t sustain the effort we had in the first half. The halftime hurt us because I thought it took us out of our rhythm. We had great energy and were getting out in transition. In the second half we didn’t rebound as well, which hurt us offensively ... but you have to credit New Hampshire for that.”

Reed continued to put up huge numbers with game-highs of 24 points and 16 rebounds. He registered his fourth straight double-double and league-leading 12th of the season. He hit 9-of-19 from the field, including a pair of three-pointers, and hauled in 14 defensive rebounds. Reed also added a season-high five assists.

Junior center Brian Freeman had 14 points and six boards and senior guard Jimmy Gray chipped in 10 points.

Gray put a temporary halt on UNH’s second-half run by hitting a three-pointer that gave the Bearcats a 43-38 lead with 12:19 remaining. But Konan caught fire and five minutes later, BU was looking at a six-point deficit.

In the first half, Reed led a sharp-shooting BU showing with 16 points. The Bearcats trailed 9-4 early before using a 26-10 run spanning the middle of the period to forge ahead. With Reed netting nine points in the game’s first 11 minutes and Freeman contributing on the inside, BU led by as many as 11 points before taking a 34-26 margin into intermission.

Reed hit 7-of-10 from the floor, including 2-of-3 three-pointers, and the freshman sensation added seven rebounds and three assists in the opening frame. Freeman chipped in eight points and the Bearcats shot 54 percent in the team’s most efficient first half of the season.

Binghamton returns home to host Vermont on Senior Night on Thursday at the Events Center.

NOTES
Reed and Konan (18 pts., 8 rebs.) were named the America East Players of the Game … Reed raised his conference-leading scoring average to 16.8 and his rebound average to 9.5, also tops in the league. He also broke the school’s freshman scoring mark set by Ben Dickinson last season (405 pts.) and now owns the freshman scoring (421+) and rebounding (237+) records … He ranks 17th in the country in double-doubles and is fourth among freshmen in rebounding and eighth in scoring. He is the only player 6-foot-4 or smaller to be among the nation’s top-70 rebounders.

VESTAL, N.Y.—Freshman sensation Jordan Reed grabbed another weekly America East basketball award after putting up some staggering numbers during two games last week. Reed shared Rookie of the Week honors with Boston guard Maurice Watson, giving him five weekly nods, which ties for the most of any rookie in BU’s America East history (Dylan Talley had five during 2009-10).

Reed averaged 21.5 points and 13.5 rebounds during the week. He is coming off a huge 29-point, 17-rebound performance in Saturday’s narrow loss to Maine and continues to lead the America East in rebounding (9.2 rpg.).

Reed also ranks second in scoring (16.5 ppg.) and has a chance to become the first freshman in conference history to lead the league in both scoring and rebounding. He is currently just 0.3 points per game behind scoring leader Justin Edwards of Maine (16.8 ppg.). Reed also leads the league with 11 double-doubles (including three in a row). 

On the national scene, Reed ranks 17th in the country in double-doubles and is fourth among freshmen in rebounding and eighth in scoring. He is the only player 6-foot-4 or smaller to be among the nation’s top-70 rebounders.

VESTAL, N.Y.—Sophomore guard Zarko Valjarevic scored 25 points and Maine (11-15, 6-7 America East) sank just enough free throws in the final two minutes to hold off Binghamton (3-23, 1-12 AE) 64-60 in front of 3,362 Saturday night at the Events Center. The loss overshadowed a huge performance from BU freshman guard Jordan Reed, who produced game-highs of 29 points and 17 rebounds.

The Black Bears built a 13-point halftime lead and didn’t allow Binghamton closer than four in the second half, despite an onslaught from Reed, who put up 26 points and 11 rebounds in the final 20 minutes alone. Reed, who ranked second in the nation (among guards) in double-doubles entering the evening, recorded his third straight and conference-best 11th of the season. His 29 points were a season-high and the rebound total, which included a BU-record 10 on the offensive glass, was one shy of his own school record, set back in November against St. Peter’s (18 rebs.). 

But the Bearcats shot only 30 percent for the game and dug themselves a double-digit halftime hole for the third straight game after hitting just 7-of-33 attempts in the opening frame (4-of-23 to start). Reed shook off an 0-for-10 start and kept Binghamton in it down the stretch.His jumper with 8:59 to play pulled the Bearcats to within four, 47-43. But Valjarevic responded with a three-pointer and Maine rattled off six straight points to regain a double-digit margin. Three times in the ensuing five minutes Binghamton cut its deficit to five, but could draw no closer. Reed scored eight points in the final 3:08 but the Black Bears made 6-of-10 free throws to hang on. 

“We struggled so much in that first half but I liked what we were getting,” head coach Tommy Dempsey said. “We had a bad half shooting but we were doing good things and we competed through that and gave ourselves a fighting chance. After missing some assignments and not communicating enough in that first half, I thought we found a better defensive combo and we were able to convert more on the offensive end in the second half. We can pull some positive from tonight. Jordan (Reed) responded in the second half. He has a huge heart and is so competitive and coachable. He is wired to be a special player.”

In addition to Reed (9-for-32 FG), senior guard Jimmy Gray reached double figures with 13 points. Junior center Roland Brown just missed a double-double with nine points and a season-high 10 rebounds. Classmate Brian Freeman added six points, eight rebounds and three blocks.

The Bearcats won the rebound battle 52-46, though BU’s total is skewed with 16 offensive boards off misses. Binghamton left eight points at the free throw line, though Maine struggled more, missing 16 free throws (22-of-38), including nine in the second half. 

Binghamton is off until traveling to Durham to face New Hampshire on February 24.

NOTES
Reed and Valjarevic were named the America East Players of the Game ... Reed leads the America East in rebounding (9.2 rpg.) and ranks second in scoring (16.5 ppg.). He is less than a half-point per game behind Maine’s Justin Edwards (16.8 ppg.) atop the league scoring list ... Reed’s 32 field goal attempts are tied for the most by a Division I player this season (Lehigh’s C.J. McCollum vs. Baylor on Nov. 9) ... The 3,362 attendance count was BU’s fourth-highest of the season and raised the team’s season average to 2,609, which leads the America East. Binghamton is seeking its 10th consecutive conference attendance crown.

STONY BROOK, N.Y. – Host Stony Brook (18-6, 9-2 AE) outscored Binghamton (3-22,1-11 AE) 23-6 in a 5:57 span that bridged both periods and the Seawolves went on to a 73-47 win Tuesday night from Pritchard Gym.

Stony Brook stretched a 27-22 lead with a 12-4 run to end the first half and then opened the second half with an 11-2 run to create a sizeable margin. The Seawolves led by as many as 34 points before settling on the final 26-point margin.

The Bearcats shot just 29 percent and committed 17 turnovers.

Freshman guard Jordan Reed produced his second-straight double-double with team-highs of 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Reed, who leads the America East in rebounding (8.8 rpg.) and ranks second in scoring (16.1 ppg.), notched his 10th double-double in his initial collegiate season. He didn’t score in the game’s first 12 minutes but turned it up for the remainder of the game (10 second-half points) and continued his trend of high conversion from the free throw line. Reed sank 8-of-9 foul shots after hitting all nine attempts in his previous game. 

Seniors Jimmy Gray and Javon Ralling chipped in 10 points apiece.

Stony Brook put three players in double figures headed by junior guard Dave Coley, who netted a game-high 15 points.

“It’s tough … we don’t have the ability to be as competitive as we need to be for a 40-minute fight,” head coach Tommy Dempsey said. “We play well in stretches but we start to struggle defensively and the game gets away from us. Stony Brook shot it well but we needed to keep up our same intensity in the second half. I thought we were so much quicker and more active in the first half.” 

Ralling and Gray netted five points each as the Bearcats led 10-9 at the first media timeout. The turnovers started to mount (9 in first half), however, and a five-plus minute dry spell turned into a 19-12 host lead. Senior forward Taylor Johnston drilled a three-pointer out of a timeout to stem the tide and cut BU’s deficit to five, 27-22. But Stony Brook began the first of its runs to bookend the halftime horn and the Seawolves didn’t look back.

Stony Brook opened the second half with a 9-0 run before back-to-back Reed buckets ended the drought. But the Bearcats hit just six second-half field goals (22%) and were on the short end of a 14-rebound margin. The Seawolves shot 44 percent, hit 9-of-20 three bids and grabbed 15 offensive rebounds.

Binghamton returns home to host Maine Saturday night at 7 p.m. at the Events Center.

NOTES
Reed and Coley were selected as the America East Players of the Game.

VESTAL, N.Y.—Junior guard D.J. Irving scored 14 of his game-high 27 points in the first five minutes and Boston University (13-11, 7-4 AE) drilled 12 three-pointers en route to a 79-58 road win over Binghamton (3-21, 1-10 AE) Saturday night from the Events Center.

Irving hit his first seven shots and had 22 points at the half as the Terriers built a 14-point bulge at intermission and never looked back.

“They shot lights out against us,” head coach Tommy Dempsey said. “We threw the kitchen sink at them defensively but they had the answers and continued to execute like good teams do. We couldn’t get it going - especially early - and we just couldn’t get enough stops. Boston is a very good team.”

The Bearcats misfired on 9-of-11 shots to open the game and quickly dug themselves an 18-6 hole 5:38 into the contest. Irving scored 17 of Boston’s first 18 points, punctuated by 11 points in a 1:37 span. Binghamton settled down and brought its deficit to single digits midway through the half. A three-point play from freshman guard Jordan Reed pulled the Bearcats to within seven, 22-15, with 10:07 left. But Boston countered with seven straight points. Later in the half, senior guard Jimmy Gray hit a three that brought the margin back to seven, 31-24, but Boston rattled off eight straight. The Terriers wound up shooting 50 percent in the half, including 9-of-18 from three-point range, and carried a 42-28 lead into the break.

Binghamton got no closer than 13 in the second half, despite 10 points from Reed, who wound up with a team-high 17 points. Reed also added 11 rebounds for his school-record ninth double-double of the season. Reed sank 9-of-9 free throws but struggled to 4-of-20 shooting from the field.

Senior forward Javon Ralling added 10 points and Gray, along with junior center Roland Brown, added seven points apiece.

The Bearcats shot 30 percent from the field but hit 22-of-24 from the free throw line. Boston put three players in double figures and had 19 assists.

Dempsey was pleased with the way his team competed in the second half as Binghamton was only outscored 37-30 over the final 20 minutes.

“We made an effort in the second half to get into the lane and I thought we did a good job attacking the paint,” he said. “We were somewhat effective getting the ball inside and getting to the line.”

The Bearcats hit 14-of-16 free throws in the second half and Reed, Ralling and junior center Brian Freeman (6 pts., 5 rebs.) earned trips to the line.

Binghamton next travels to Long Island to face league-leading Stony Brook on Tuesday.

NOTES
Reed and Irving were selected as the America East Players of the Game ... Reed broke the school record for double-doubles, set by Lazar Trifunovic in 2007-08. He ranks seventh among the nation’s freshmen in rebounding (8.8 rpg.) and eighth in scoring (16.1 ppg.).

VESTAL, N.Y.—Award-winning and longtime Broome County sports announcer and Binghamton basketball radio play-by-play voice Roger Neel is now being honored for his athletic accomplishments. Neel will be inducted into the Slippery Rock (Pa.) High School Hall of Fame this Saturday. The ceremony and recognition dinner will pull Neel away from a Bearcats basketball broadcast for the first time in 15 years.

Neel was a two-sport athlete at Slippery Rock, excelling at football and baseball. He earned three letters in baseball and led the team with a .458 batting average as a senior captain and first baseman. He also was an offensive and defensive tackle on the football team for two years and graduated in 1969.

After graduation, Neel continued his athletics prowess at Westminster College (Pa.), where he was a three-year starter and starting member of the school’s first NAIA Championship team in 1970 and its national runnerup team in 1971. During Neel’s tenure, the Titans held the nation’s longest winning streak at 24 straight games. He earned Pittsburgh Press first team all-district honors as an offensive tackle in 1971 and played for two College Football Hall of Fame coaches in Dr. Harold Burry and Dr. Joseph Fusco. Neel also captained Westminster’s baseball team, where he played alongside future New York Yankee Darryl Jones. He graduated from Westminster in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in speech with a concentration in radio/television. 

Neel’s professional accomplishments are widespread. He began his broadcasting career in 1973 as the play-by-play voice of the Johnstown Jets of the North American Hockey League. In 1978, Neel arrived in Binghamton and began work at WNBF radio and as lead announcer for the Broome Dusters (and later Binghamton Whalers) of the American Hockey League. His work in hockey has resulted in election to the Binghamton Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003 and honors as the James Ellery Award winner for radio broadcasting and publicity in the AHL.

In 1998, Neel began his long tenure as basketball play-by-play man for Binghamton University and he hasn’t missed a game in 15 years. Along the way, Neel’s voice has resonated back to Broome County fans from the far reaches of Alaska, California, Texas, New Mexico, Florida and North Carolina. Neel called the historic 2009 NCAA first-round game between the Bearcats and Duke from Greensboro, N.C.

He has continued to work as brand manager and sports director for Townsquare Media radio stations 1290 WNBF and ESPN 1360 WYOS and hosts WNBF’s popular morning show.

Neel is the most visible and veteran broadcaster in Upstate New York and has done television work for NESN, MSG, Time Warner Cable and New York SportsChannel. He also served as the public address announcer for the Double-A Binghamton Mets in the Eastern League, working more than 800 games over a 12-year span.

On campus, Neel has also served as master of ceremonies for the athletic department’s annual awards banquet and has promoted BU’s 21 teams and 400+ student-athletes on a daily basis.

“I have known Roger for more than 20 years and have always been amazed at his unmatched level of professionalism and enthusiasm for our university, our student-athletes and the Binghamton community,” said John Hartrick, BU’s associate athletics director. “Roger keeps a hectic schedule that not many people could perform day-in, day out and he always has a smile on his face. He truly is one-of-a-kind and this area has been blessed to have him. Roger loves sports and appreciates and respects the talents of the athletes he covers ... yet he is so humble about his own achievements. We all salute Roger for his induction into the Slippery Rock Hall of Fame and thank him for sharing his expertise with us and the Binghamton Bearcats fans.” 

Neel and his wife, Beth, reside in Endicott.

VESTAL, N.Y.—Sophomore forward Mark Nwakamma scored a game-high 22 points and visiting Hartford (13-10, 6-4 AE) used a 17-4 second-half run to pull away from Binghamton (3-20, 1-9 AE) 76-62 in an America East men’s basketball game Wednesday night at the Events Center.

The teams were tied 46-46 with 16:02 to play before the Hawks capitalized on a combination of 1-for-7 Binghamton shooting and five turnovers to embark on the decisive run, which spanned 10:01.

Nwakamma netted 14 of his points in the second half and the Bearcats couldn’t respond, converting just 8-of-22 from the field (36%) over the final 20 minutes.

Freshman guard Jordan Reed paced Binghamton with 17 points and nine rebounds in 40 minutes. Senior forward Taylor Johnston drilled 4-of-6 from beyond the arc for 15 points and junior center Brian Freeman added 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting.

The Bearcats shot 52 percent in the first half and trailed by only two, 38-36, at intermission. Reed (11 pts.) and Freeman (10 pts.) carried the offensive load in a tight half that featured four ties and nine lead changes.

But the Hawks kept up their execution throughout the second half and the Bearcats’ 10-minute lull was costly.

Freshman guard Karon Waller came off the bench to produce eight points in 15 minutes of work.

Hartford held a 43-31 margin on the glass and turned 16 BU turnovers into 23 points.

NOTES
Reed and Nwakamma were named the America East Players of the Game.

VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton men’s basketball coach Tommy Dempsey is featured in the current edition of America East On Campus.

A segment of the show followed Dempsey on game day in Orono, Maine, as the Bearcats pulled out a dramatic 57-56 win over the Black Bears.

The four-plus minute segment showed Dempsey’s pre-game and post-game locker room talk as well as game footage and sound.

The feature begins at the 15:55 minute mark of the On Campus show.