For Immediate Release: December 17, 2005
Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6800

Binghamton men's basketball rallies past North Florida 71-64
Hermenier scores career-high 24 points with 10 rebounds

Box Score

VESTAL, N.Y. - Junior guard Troy Hailey (Hyattsville, Md.) nailed a three-pointer with 2:00 left to give Binghamton (2-6) its first lead of the game and the Bearcats closed out the contest on a 20-6 run to overcome North Florida (3-4) 71-64 in a men's college basketball game Saturday afternoon at the Events Center.

Binghamton, which trailed by as many as 12 points, rallied behind the play of senior captains Sebastian Hermenier (Rockville, Md.) and Andre Heard (Oklahoma City, Okla.). Hermenier was near perfect on the offensive end, hitting 9-of-10 for a career-high 24 points. He also pulled down 10 rebounds to post his second-straight double-double. Heard scored a season-high 26 points - including 20 in the pivotal second half when BU rallied.

"It was a great effort by our guys," head coach Al Walker said. "We made the big plays and showed a lot of character. It's something we can build off. Now we have an opportunity to gain some momentum heading to Albany (conference opener on Tuesday).

The Bearcats trailed 60-55 with 4:03 left before draining three-pointers on three consecutive possessions - the final coming courtesy of Hailey from the left corner. That bucket - Hailey's first of the game, gave BU a 64-62 lead. After a North Florida missed layup on the other end, Hermenier sank two free throws and Binghamton converted five more free throws in the final 51 seconds to seal the victory.

Sophomore point guard Mike Gordon (Plainfield, N.J.) produced nine assists, eight rebounds and drained a key three-pointer with 2:43 remaining that cut BU's deficit to one, 62-61.

Senior guard Schafer Jackson (Provo, Utah) added nine points on three three-pointers.

North Florida was led by senior forward Alain Laroche, who tallied 23 points and 10 rebounds.

Binghamton next travels to Albany Tuesday for its America East opener.