For Immediate Release: January 3, 2006
Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6800

Binghamton men's basketball falls to UMBC 73-71 in conference opener
Retrievers shoot 59% from floor, win on three-point play in final seconds

Box Score

VESTAL, N.Y. - Junior guard Brian Hodges converted a three-point play with five seconds left to lift UMBC (5-9, 1-0 America East) to a 73-71 win over host Binghamton (7-6, 0-1 America East) in the conference opener for both teams Wednesday night from the Events Center. The Retrievers shot 59% and broke down Binghamton's interior defense for 34 points in the paint.

With the Bearcats clinging to a 71-70 lead in the closing seconds, Hodges drove the baseline, made a layup and drew a foul with 5.5 seconds remaining. He sank the free throw for the final margin. Binghamton pushed the ball upcourt for a final shot attempt but junior guard Mike Gordon (Plainfield, N.J.) was stripped at midcourt by sophomore point guard Jay Greene, who ran out the clock.

"We didn't defend anybody tonight," head coach Al Walker said. "It's going to be our nemesis the whole year until we figure it out."

Freshman forward Lazar Trifunovic (Belgrade, Serbia), who collected 16 points, six rebounds and three assists, sank a pair of free throws with 16 seconds left to give BU its final lead, 71-70. But after a Bearcats timeout, Greene worked the ball to Hodges, who flew to the basket for the winning points.

Senior guard Steve Proctor (Largo, Md.) scored 16 points and Gordon added 12 points, seven assists and three steals.

Greene collected 10 points, seven assists, six rebounds and three steals for the Retrievers.

Binghamton next hosts defending America East champion and preseason favorite Albany at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

NOTES
Hodges and Trifunovic were selected as the America East Players of the Game ... The Bearcats have now dropped their last four America East openers ... Binghamton hit a season-high 12 three-pointers (12-for-22).