Bear struggle early, fall to Binghamton Maine makes only 7 first-half field goals

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VESTAL, N.Y. – Binghamton University shot 53 percent from the floor Sunday afternoon while cruising to an 84-56 America East men’s basketball victory over the University of Maine at the Events Center.

The Bearcats put together a 15-2 scoring run midway through the first half while building a 30-13 advantage, then answered an Ernest Turner 3-pointer by rattling off a 14-4 flurry that gave them a 44-20 halftime bulge.

Coach Ted Woodward’s Black Bears slipped to 9-13 overall, 4-7 in conference action. Binghamton is now 10-11 and 7-3, respectively.

Phil Techekane Bofia connected for 16 points, tying a career high, to head the UMaine charge. Jon Sheets netted 11 points and handed out four assists, while Turner chipped in with nine points and seven rebounds.

The Bears made only seven field goals while shooting 26 percent in the first half and wound up connecting on only 35 percent for the contest.

Andre Heard tossed in a game-high 21 points for Binghamton, which shot 55 percent from the field in the first half. Sebastian Hermenier tallied 18 points, and Mike Gordon contributed 12 points and six assists.

The Bearcats outrebounded the Bears 38-29.

Binghamton scored 17 points as a result of UMaine turnovers, although the Bears committed only 12. The hosts also received 23 points from their bench players as opposed to 11 by the Bears.

Behind two 3-pointers by Sheets, UMaine did make a second-half charge. The Bears manufactured a 16-2 scoring run, but still got within only 17 points with 3:48 remaining and couldn’t close the gap further.

UMaine is off until it plays host to Albany on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Alfond Arena in Orono.

BEARCATS 84, BLACK BEARS 56

Maine (9-13) Binghamton (10-11)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Tchkn Bfia 7 13 1 3 16 Hermenir 7 12 4 4 18

Ahvennimi 1 3 3 4 5 Olomo 3 3 7

R. Turner 0 7 4 4 4 Gordon 5 9 12

Sheets 4 10 0 0 11 Hailey 1 5 3

E. Turner 3 11 2 2 9 Heard 8 15 21

Keith 0 1 0 0 0 Jackson 1 3 3

Bruff 0 0 2 2 2 Davison 2 2 4

Hight 1 1 0 0 2 Milno 2 5 5

Petkus 1 3 0 0 3 Jackson 1 3 2

Scales 0 1 0 0 0 Proctor 1 3 3

Cavanagh 2 5 0 0 4 James 2 2 6

Montgmry 0 0 0

Totals 19 55 12 15 56 Totals 33 62 13 15 84

Maine 20 56

Binghamton 44 84

3-pt. goals – Maine (6-19): Tchekane Bofia 1-2, R. Turner 0-3, Sheets 3-7, E. Turner 1-5, Petkus 1-2; Binghamton (5-16): Gordon 2-3, Hailey 1-3, Heard 1-5, Jackson 1-2, Milno 0-2, Proctor 0-1

Attendance: 3,107