For Immediate Release: February 23, 2008
Contact: Matt Muzza (hartrick@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6800

Shorthanded BU men's basketball defeats Manhattan 66-56
Forbes ties career-high with 27 points; Gordon adds 20 points

Box Score

RIVERDALE, N.Y. -- Playing without two starters, visiting Binghamton (13-14) stretched an eight-point halftime lead and defeated Manhattan (11-16) 66-56 Saturday afternoon at Draddy Gymnasium. The game was originally part of the ESPNU Bracketbuster series and is the final non-conference game for the Bearcats.

"Our guys stepped up to the plate today," head coach Kevin Broadus said. "We played our A-game. I was happy with the way we defended in both halves."

Senior guard Richard Forbes (Far Rockaway) scored a game-high and tied his career-best with 27 points on 12-for-21 shooting and two three pointers. Forbes scored 15 points in the first half.

Senior guard Mike Gordon (Plainfield, N.J.) had a stellar all-around game with 20 points on 6-for-9 shooting to go along with eight rebounds, four assists and two steals. Gordon also shot 3-of-4 from beyond the arc.

The Bearcats controlled the second half, never letting the Jaspers get within more than seven after the 15-minute mark of the game. Binghamton hit 5-of-6 free throws within the final minute to secure the victory.

The Bearcats trailed the Jaspers 20-14 with 8:25 remaining in the first half but closed the period on an 20-6 run. During a 55 second span at the end of the spurt Gordon knocked down back-to-back three pointers and then made a steal and a dish to freshman guard Chretien Lukusa (Toronto, Ontario) for a lay-up to take a 34-26 halftime lead.

Freshman guard Chris Smith paced the Jaspers with 14 points while sophomore guard Antoine Pearson netted 12.

Binghamton hosts longtime SUNY rival Albany on Wednesday in a key game for America East tournament positioning.

NOTES
The Bearcats played without two starters and dressed just eight scholarship players ... Junior forward Reggie Fuller (Missouri City, Texas) did not make the trip due to family reasons. Sophomore forward Lazar Trifunovic (Belgrade, Serbia) also didn't play due to an injury ... Gordon started his 99th consecutive game and now has 974 career points... Forbes scored over 20 points for a team-high fifth time ... Binghamton held Manhattan to 33.3 percent shooting.