The Binghamton Bearcats men's basketball program opened the doors to the Binghamton University Events Center exactly a week before Christmas for a nighttime match-up with the Mercyhurst Lakers.
Binghamton entered the contest at 6-6 overall, Mercyhurst at 6-7.
The Lakers are in their first season in transition from NCAA Division 2 to Division 1, joining the Northeast Conference (NEC) in realignment.
There were seven lead changes and six ties in the first half, with the new-to-Division 1 Lakers leading 28-24.
At the 12:24 mark of the second half, there had already been four more ties, but the Bearcats would take the lead at the 17:53 mark when senior forward Nehemiah Benson connected on a layup and they would not trail until just inside six minutes to play when Lakers' graduate guard Shemar Rathan-Mayes put together an old-fashioned three-point-play to make it 45-44 Lakers.
Out of a break in the action, sophomore forward Gavin Walsh took the ball strong through the lane and to the rim, putting together his own three-point-play, breaking yet another tie, giving Binghamton a 51-48 lead.
However, Mercyhurst graduate forward Jeff Planutis would answer immediately with a three-ball to bring about the 13th tie of the night, this at 51-all.
Shortly after, Rathan-Mayes would go 1-for-2 on his 1-&-1 opportunity to get the Lakers within one, 55-54.
But when Rathan-Mayes missed his second free throw he would follow by fouling Walsh who would get his own 1-&-1. Walsh would miss, but he grabbed his own rebound, and the Bearcats had another opportunity, which senior guard Chris Walker sent home from long range to move the Bearcats ahead 58-54.
Binghamton senior guard Wes Peterson, Jr., was next to be fouled, this in trying to get the ball on the defensive end, and once again, the Bearcats missed the front end of a 1-&-1 and followed by keeping possession that they turned into points, this time from Walker making both free throws in his 1-&-1 attempt, elevating Binghamton to a 60-54 lead with under a minute to go.
After Walsh missed both free throws for the Bearcats, Lakers senior forward Aidan Reichert went in for a layup and then Rathan-Mayes stole the ball on the inbounds, got fouled, and made both of his freebies, tying the game at 60.
With two seconds remaining on the game clock, Peterson would find Walker who snuck underneath the basket. Walker would elevate for a wide-open layup off the backboard to win the game 62-60.
Mercyhurst gave a valiant effort, but would lose their fourth game in their last five outings, moving to 6-8.
Binghamton, on the other hand, is now a winner of five-straight games, improving to 7-6.
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