For Immediate Release: January 28, 2006
Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6800

BU men's basketball overcome by Albany in closing seconds, 52-51
Great Danes snap BU's six-game win streak, take over first place

Box Score

VESTAL, N.Y. - Junior forward Jason Siggers sank a short baseline jumper with six seconds left and visiting Albany (12-8, 7-2 America East) scored 15 of the game's final 18 points to rally past Binghamton Binghamton (9-10, 6-2 AE) 52-51 Saturday afternoon from the Events Center. It was a matchup of the top two teams in the America East Conference and they flip-flopped positions in the standings with the Great Danes taking over first place.

The Bearcats appeared on their way to a seventh straight win as they led 48-37 with 4:22 remaining in the game. But the Great Danes caught fire on offense, converting their final four field goals and 6-of-7 free throws. Junior guard Jamar Wilson, who missed his first 10 shots and wasn't a factor in the game's first 36 minutes, scored eight points in the final 4:11, including a three-point play that tied the score at 50-50 with 0:55 left.

Senior forward Sebastian Hermenier (Rockville, Md.) made 1-of-2 free throws with 0:34 left for BU's final points. The Bearcats had one final possession after the Siggers jumper. Sophomore point guard Mike Gordon (Plainfield, N.J.) drove into the lane but dished to senior guard Andre Heard (Oklahoma City, Okla.) on the left wing. Heard's three-point bid was well long as the horn sounded.

"It was a great game by Albany," head coach Al Walker said. "It's disappointing. We fought hard and then we gave it right back. I thought we should've won the game after we jumped out to that lead. But we made no stops and got no scores in the last two minutes. It's too bad. Wilson (Jamar) took the game over. He made the plays."

Before Albany's final run, it looked like junior guard Troy Hailey (Hyattsville, Md.) was going to be BU's hero, as he keyed a 17-4 run that gave the Bearcats a double-digit lead. Hailey scored 11 straight Binghamton points and BU held the Great Danes scoreless for 7:14, turning a 33-31 deficit into a 48-37 lead. But BU self-destructed in the final four mintes, going 1-for-5 with two turnovers.

Binghamton, which entered the game shooting 71% from the free throw line, missed eight free throws (9-of-17), including four in the final 6:37.

Heard led all scorers with 15 points and added eight rebounds. Hailey wound up with 14 points - all in the second half.

Albany had three players in double figures. Wilson scored 12 points and senior forward Levi Levine and Siggers added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Binghamton next plays at UMBC on Thursday in the first of two meetings with the Retrievers.

NOTES
The attendance was a season-high 4,743. Binghamton is averaging a conference-best 3,559 at the Events Center.