If you asked Kevin Broadus one month ago whether his Binghamton University men’s basketball team would be in first place eight games into the conference season, he knows what his answer would have been.

‘No,’ the first-year head coach said after the Bearcats (10-10, 6-2) defeated the Maine Black Bears 69-58 Sunday in Orono. ‘You can say it, but nah, realistically, no. We’ve been lucky and we’ve been fortunate, the ball’s bouncing our way.’

After downing the Black Bears (6-14, 2-5), the Bearcats were also fortunate enough to come away with their fifth straight win and their third straight road win. Binghamton lost its first eight road games of the season.

‘We’re not looking at it as road games,’ Broadus said. ‘We’re trying to do everything to make it as comfortable as a home game.’

Forward Lazar Trifunovic certainly looked comfortable, scoring a game-high and collegiate-best 26 points, 18 in the second half. Trifunovic added eight rebounds, four assists and converted on all eight of his free throws.

Trifunovic had been double-teamed throughout the first half, but began passing the ball outside to open up the game for him. Binghamton led 30-28 at halftime, but outscored the Black Bears by nine in the second half.

‘Laz was solid,’ Broadus said. ‘For the most part he shared the game to open some things up for him. He made some great passes. Then it opened up for him to get him going.’

Broadus was also extremely impressed with the play of guard Dwayne Jackson, who added 15 points off the bench.

‘DJ was huge,’ Broadus said. ‘He was unbelievable for us. He may have been the best out there offensively and defensively.’

The junior from Akron, Ohio has emerged as one of the top six men in the America East.

‘When he’s focused he brings mental toughness,’ Broadus said. ‘It helps him do a lot of things offensively. He’s bought into his role off the bench.’

Injury notes: Starting forward Reggie Fuller cut his hand at halftime and emerged from the locker room several minutes into the second half. He did not return to the lineup.

‘There was blood everywhere,’ Broadus said. ‘We had to go to the young guys. Like we always tell them, be ready for when your number’s called, and today Chretien [Lukusa] stepped up.’

Freshman guard Lukusa returned to the lineup after missing the previous game with a hip injury. He scored seven points in 21 minutes.

‘It’s feeling a lot better. When you win those little pains go away,’ Broadus said.

BU Zoo back in action: The Bearcats will be back in action Saturday, when the team takes on the Hartford Hawks at the Events Center. The Hawks handed BU its last road loss 80-79 in Hartford earlier in the month.

‘Saturday is one of our biggest games and I hope and pray that all the students will be there with all the support and doing the things I know they can do,’ Broadus said. ‘When we were 1-and-whatever they gave us all the support in the world, and I look forward to seeing the BU Zoo come Saturday.’

‘I thank them for the support when we’re down and now we need them to stay up top,’ he said.