Binghamton Bearcats Fall to Number 4 Syracuse

The Binghamton Bearcats attempt at being giant-killers at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse fell short on Saturday evening.  Syracuse topped the Bearcats 93-65 to up their record to 9-0.  Binghamton drops to 2-7.

Coming into the game The Orange were ranked fourth by Associated Press and fifth by the ESPN/Coach's poll.  It was the fifth time Syracuse and Binghamton met with The Orange now 5-0 versus the Bearcats.  The two teams had not played since 2004.

The Bearcats got off to a solid start and led Syracuse 11-3 in the early going.  With 15:20 left in the first half and Binghamton up 11-6 Jim Boeheim called a time-out.  Out of the stoppage The Orange put full-court, trapping pressure on the Bearcats on in-bounds situations and immediately forced several turnovers.  The increased pressure ignited a 19-0 run for Syracuse and they closed out the first-half leading 54-30.  Syracuse only outscored the Bearcats 39-35 in the   second-half but the damage was done.

Binghamton's standout sophomore Jordan Reed was the games' top-scorer with 26 points.  The Bearcats had two freshmen in double figures.  Marlon Beck hit for 14 points while Nick Madray notched 11 points.  C.J. Fair led Syracuse in scoring with 19 points and Trevor Cooney picked-up 17 points, 15 of which came on 3-point baskets.

The announced attendance of 25,844 was the largest crowd that has watched Binghamton play.  The Bearcats are off until Saturday when they travel to Monmouth for a 7 PM game (airtime at 6:45 on News Radio 1290 WNBF).  Monmouth is coached by former Binghamton High School standout King Rice who went on to star at the University of North Carolina.