For Immediate Release: January 15, 2006
Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6800

Four in a Row: BU men's basketball knocks off Boston University 48-47
Senior guard Andre Heard scores 17 second-half points to carry Bearcats

Box Score

BOSTON - Senior guard Andre Heard (Oklahoma City, Okla.) scored 17 of his game-high 22 points in the pivotal second half to carry visiting Binghamton (7-9, 4-1 America East) past Boston University (5-11, 2-3 AE) 48-47 Sunday afternoon from Case Gymnasium. The win was the fourth straight for the Bearcats and fifth in six games.

Binghamton hung on for dear life after Heard's short jumper gave his team a 46-40 lead with 4:20 remaining. The Bearcats missed five straight shots and Boston trimmed its deficit to 46-45 with 1:49 to play before missing the front-end of a 1-and-1 that could've tied the game. Heard then made two free throws with 40 seconds left for his team's final points. The Terriers made a bucket with 6.3 seconds left, cutting the margin to 48-47, and after an intentional foul, Binghamton missed the front end of a 1-and-1, but a last ditch Boston shot was off the mark at the buzzer.

"That was some game ... what a tough battle," head coach Al Walker said. "Our boys really fought hard on the defensive end and Andre (Heard) was spectacular. He carried us. I thought we did great job against the press ... we never turned it over and six turnovers means we did a great job taking care of the ball. Our guys stepped up and made plays on the defensive end. I think we're really starting to come around and understand that we can be good if we defend, rebound and take care of the ball."

Binghamton trailed 36-31 early in the second period before Heard took over. The all-conference wing player scored nine straight Bearcats points and keyed a 13-1 run that restored Binghamton's lead for good. Heard, who is averaging 20 points in conference play, wound up scoring 17 of Binghamton's 23 second-half points.

Junior guard Duane James (Miami, Fla.) chipped in six points in a strong effort off the bench.

"Duane had his best game of the season because he was a presence at the defensive end and on the glass," Walker said.

In the first half, Binghamton held its host without a field goal for more than 10 minutes and stretched its lead to as many as 10 points before settling for a 25-21 intermission margin.

Binghamton plays the final game of three straight away contests Thursday at Hartford.

NOTES
The 47 points scored by Boston were the fewest of any BU opponent this season and fewest since Binghamton held Hartford to 38 points in a 66-38 win last February 2 at home. Binghamton moved three games over the .500 mark in America East play and kept its hold on second place in the standings. The team's 4-1 conference record is its best position after five games since joining the league in 2001-02. The road win at Boston was the first in five tries. Binghamton can now strike Case Gymnasium off its list of winless venues in the America East - the Bearcats are still looking for their first win at Vermont and at Hartford. After losing the first seven games in the all-time series against Boston, Binghamton has won two straight.