Bearcats Men Host Black Bears In Conference Opener

The Binghamton Bearcats men's basketball team opens America East play today (Saturday) at 1 PM (12:45 air on News Radio 1290 WNBF)  at the Events Center when they host the Maine Black Bears.  Maine opened its conference schedule on Wednesday with a 71-70 loss at Stony Brook.

The Bear Cats finished non-conference action with a 9-6 record which tied last year's record for most non conference victories at the Division I level.  In their last non-conference game versus Division III Elmira College the Bearcats scored 60 second-half points and shot 66 percent from the field to roll to a 113-65 win.  Binghamton hopes to have standout center Thomas Bruce back in the lineup after missing the last two games with an ankle injury.

The Black Bears are 3-13 and are led by Aaron Calixte who is averaging 15.3 points per game.  Calixte is also shooting at a 91 percent clip from the free throw line and has made 52 of 57 chances at the charity stripe.

.  He set a school record with 37 consecutive free throws made.

The teams meet for the 35th time and each side has won 17 times. At the
Events Center the Bearcats hold a 12-5 edge.  Last season the teams split the two game series with each posting road wins.