Bearcats Bounced in Season Openers

This weekend opened Division I play for both the Binghamton University men's and women's basketball teams.  Both opened away and both against teams that made it to the NCAA Tournament last season.

The BU men faced the Loyola Greyhounds in Baltimore last night.  Loyola captured the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship and lost to Ohio State in the NCAA Tournament.

Loyola didn't miss a beat as the Greyhounds raced out to a 19-2 advantage and never looked back defeating the Bearcats 71-45.  Jimmy Gray kept Binghamton hopes alive as he notched nine points in the last 3:49 of the first half but the Bearcats still trailed 39-22 at the half.

Gray was the only Bearcat in double figures with 14.  K J Brown scored a career high 9 points in 17 minutes of playing time.  Loyola owned a sizeable advantage on the boards outrebounding the Bearcats 35 - 21.  The Bearcats manged only 5 offensive rebounds in the game.

In an afternoon game today the Binghamton Bearcats lost the women's Division I opener at St Bonaventure 61-34.  BU hit for just 24 percent shooting for the game.  the Bonnies notched 22 points off of Bearcats turnovers.  St Bonaventure is coming off a regular season Atlantic 10 Championship and a trip to the Sweet 16 in the women's NCAA

Tournament.

Freshman Morgan Murphy came off the bench to lead Binghanton in scoring with 12 points.  Windsor, NY native Jim Crowley is entering his 13th season as head coach of the Bonnies.

Home contests are on the horizon for both teams.  The Bearcats host the Brown Bears in a men's game tomorrow at 2 PM.  Tomorrow is Veteran's Day and in a special salute to veterans The Bearcats are recognizing all current or former military veterans who will receive two complimentary tickets for game entry if they are in military uniform or have appropriate Identification.  The women host Cornell at 7 PM Wed at the Events Center (650 airtime on ESPN 1360 AM).  Tomorrow's men's game will be simulcast on Time Warner Cable Sportschannel with air on News Radio 1290 WNBF at 150 PM.