UMBC

Vestal, N.Y.—Binghamton senior forward Sebastian Hermenier hit a three-pointer from the right corner with 43 seconds left to erase a one-point deficit and propel the host Bearcats (14-12, 11-4 America East) to a 66-63 win over a game UMBC (9-16, 5-9) squad on “Senior Night” at Binghamton.

The Retrievers trailed by as many as 16 points in the first half (26-10) and were behind by double digits with four minutes remaining. Trailing 60-50, UMBC got a three-pointer from sophomore guard Brian Hodges, back-to-back buckets by senior forward John Zito and a pair of free throws by senior forward Jerrell Dinkins to cut the deficit to 61-59 with 2:07 remaining.

After a Binghamton missed attempt, Hodges hit a driving layup and the ensuing free throw with 1:05 remaining to give the Retrievers a 61-60 lead. But Hermenier, who had seven three-point goals entering play tonight, hit his second of the game to restore the Bearcat advantage at 64-62.

On the next possession, Zito was fouled on a put-back attempt, but made only one of two free throws with 13.1 seconds remaining. Binghamton’s Mike Gordon made a pair of free throws with 11.9 seconds left to give the hosts a three-point lead. For the second time in four road games, Hodges had a chance to send the game to overtime, but his three-point attempt was off the mark.

Zito posted his fourth “double-double” of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Hodges added 12 points for UMBC, including 10 in the second half. Mike Gordon led Binghamton with 17 points, while Hermenier added 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Both teams shot below 40 percent from the floor, but the difference was at the free throw line, while Binghamton was 25 of 29, while the Retrievers were 15 of 23.

UMBC, which is 0-7 in America East road games, gets one more chance when they travel to Maine for a Thursday night game with the Black Bears. A win would assure UMBC of no worse than a seventh-place finish.