The Binghamton Bearcats men’s basketball team put up a strong fight but ultimately fell to the Longwood Lancers in a tightly contested matchup on Tuesday night. Despite leading for much of the game and holding Longwood to just 32% shooting from the field, Binghamton couldn’t close out the contest, suffering a 66-60 defeat at Dr. Bai Lee Court at the Events Center. The loss drops Binghamton to 2-4 on the season, while Longwood remains undefeated at 5-0 as the reigning Big South Conference champions.
Late-Game Drama Seals the Outcome
The final minute of the game was a thrilling back-and-forth battle that saw Binghamton come within one point of Longwood. With under a minute remaining and the Bearcats trailing 59-56, sophomore forward Gavin Walsh made a crucial drive to the basket, cutting the deficit to 59-58. However, Longwood’s top scorer, KJ McClurg, responded with a clutch three-pointer that extended the Lancers’ lead to four points.
Binghamton had a chance to respond but missed two three-point attempts on their next possession. Longwood capitalized on the opportunity, converting four free throws in the final 17 seconds to secure the victory. The loss was a tough pill to swallow for the Bearcats, who had controlled the tempo for large stretches of the game but struggled to execute in the crucial final moments.
A Strong Start, but Costly Mistakes
Binghamton came out firing, shooting an impressive 60% from the field in the first half. They carried a narrow 35-33 lead into halftime and extended their advantage to seven points early in the second half. However, Longwood’s physical presence on the boards slowly shifted the momentum in their favor.
The Lancers dominated the rebounding battle, pulling down 26 total rebounds, including 12 on the offensive glass. Their ability to generate second-chance opportunities led to 13 additional shot attempts, which proved to be a deciding factor in the game. Additionally, Binghamton struggled at the free-throw line, missing eight critical points that could have made the difference in such a closely contested matchup.
Head coach Levell Sanders reflected on his team’s performance, acknowledging both the positives and areas for improvement.
“It was a hard-fought game. They are a really good offensive-rebounding team. When you give a team 20 offensive rebounds, those second-chance points come back to hurt you. I like the way we came out and fought. This was a good team for us to play, and I have a lot of respect for their coach.”
Longwood Basketball (image via Getty)Standout Performances
Despite the loss, Binghamton had several standout individual performances. Graduate forward Ben Callahan-Gold led the team with 15 points, sinking five three-pointers. Graduate guard Tymu Chenery added 14 points, six rebounds, and four blocks, showcasing his two-way ability.
Gavin Walsh continued his impressive run of form, recording his fourth consecutive double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. He is now just one game away from tying the program’s record of five straight double-doubles, a milestone set by Mahamoud Jabbi during the 2010-11 season.
Looking Ahead
The Bearcats will look to bounce back as they prepare for their upcoming road game against Central Connecticut State. They travel to New Britain, Connecticut, for a Sunday afternoon matchup, aiming to regroup and build on their strong moments from the game against Longwood.
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