Binghamton Men Lose to Monmouth in Rice Return

The Binghamton Bearcats men's basketball team lost their third straight game last night at the Events Center.  The Monmouth Hawks downed BU 77- 65 to drop the Bearcats record to 2-7.  Monmouth goes to 5-3.  The game marked the return of Binghamton High graduate King Rice  who is in his second season as head coach of the Hawks.

Rice was a McDonald's All-American in high school.  He went on to play at the University of North Carolina where he starred as the point guard for legendary coach Dean Smith.  Several hundred ex-teammates, friends and relatives were on hand to greet Rice and welcome him home.

Binghamton trailed 38-28 at the half.  In the second half the Bearcats were able to trim the lead to three points but could not muster enough of a charge to take the lead back.

Freshman sensation Jordan Reed led all scorers with 26 points.  He completed his double-double  with 10 rebounds.  Reed leads the America East in both scoring average and rebounding.

21 turnovers plagued the Bearcats as Monmouth scored 32 points off turnovers.  The Bearcats forced the Hawks into 17 turnovers which resulted in 16 points for the Bearcats.  Binghamton returns to action at Bryant at 1 PM this Saturday.  The Bearcats wiil then make the trek to Michigan to face the Wolverines at 7 PM Tiuesday.  Bearcats Head Coach Tommy Dempsey will join Roger Neel tomorrow evening at 7 PM at the Riverwalk Bistro for the next edition of the  Horizons Federal Credit Union.