For Immediate Release: March 4, 2006
Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6800

BU men's basketball pushes past Maine 71-62 in America East quarterfinals
Heard pours in 24 points, Bearcats advance to Sunday semifinals

Post-Game Quotes
Box Score

VESTAL, N.Y. - Second-seeded Binghamton (16-12) used a decisive 10-0 run late in the game to push past No. 7 Maine (12-16) 71-62 in the quarterfinals of the America East Championship Saturday afternoon from the Events Center. Binghamton now advances to the semifinals against the winner of the Boston University/Vermont game that tipped off at approximately 2:30 p.m. It is the second consecutive season that Binghamton has reached the semifinals of the America East tournament.

Senior guard Andre Heard (Oklahoma City, Okla.) scored 19 of his game-high 24 points in the second half and sparked the run with three points, including a highlight-reel dunk. With BU clinging to a 47-45 lead with 7:43 left, Heard made a free throw to begin the 10-0 run. Junior forward Duane James (Miami, Fla.) grabbed an offensive rebound off Heard's second free throw and his layup made it 50-45. Heard took a fast-break pass from sophomore point guard Mike Gordon (Plainfield, N.J.) and his dunk pushed the lead to 52-47. Junior guard Troy Hailey (Hyattsville, Md.) added a three-pointer with 4:34 left to extend the margin to 55-45.

Heard hit 6-of-18 from the floor, including a pair of three-pointers, and sank 10-of-11 free throws. He was equally sharp on the defensive end, registering four steals, including three in the decisive second half.

James posted a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, and freshman forward Ian Milne (Winkler, Manitoba) chipped in 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting.

"It was a hard fought game and I'm happy we could move forward," head coach Al Walker said. "I thought Maine played very well. We were great coming down the stretch from the free throw line and Duane (James) and Ian (Milne) both played terrific games."

Both teams struggled offensively in the first half, each making just eight field goals in the opening frame. The Bearcats held an earlyl 20-9 lead and carried a 25-21 lead into intermission.