Add another history-making section to the record books for Binghamton University’s men’s basketball team. This past weekend the Bearcats (4-2) traveled to Rutgers University of the Big East Conference — college basketball’s most competitive conference, which is poised to send as many as 10 teams to the NCAA tournament this year — and left as the victor, 66-56.
This marked the first time in school history that the men’s basketball team defeated a Big East opponent.
“Those are the games, as they say, that you aren’t supposed to win,” said Binghamton head coach Kevin Broadus. “On most days, they would [beat] us. For those 40 minutes, we were the better team. It’s just one of those things that you dream about doing. You gotta dream the dream.”
Rutgers (5-3) boasts junior big man and NBA prospect Hamady N’Diaye, the nation’s second-leading shot-blocker, and freshman guard Mike Rosario, a McDonald’s All-American during his senior campaign at St. Anthony High School in New Jersey, in its starting lineup. The team also has many other players who were ranked in the top 100 of their respective high school classes, such as guard Mike Coburn of Mt. Vernon High School in New York and freshman center Greg Echenique of St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in New Jersey.
The Bearcats played stifling defense and forced the Scarlet Knights to turn the ball over a whopping 23 times and dish out only 10 assists. Binghamton was comparatively dominant in this category with 11 assists and 12 turnovers.
Despite the ugly assist-to-turnover ratio for both teams, the Bearcats were able to pull out their third straight win, two of which were played on the road.
Junior transfers D.J. Rivera and Malik Alvin were responsible for the majority of the team’s offense in the win.
Alvin was on the court for all 40 minutes of the game and accumulated 17 points, six assists, four rebounds, three steals and three turnovers. The guard also took 14 free throws thanks to his attacking style of play, and converted on 11.
Broadus described Alvin as “ … one of the fastest guys I have ever been associated with.”
Rivera, an aggressive swingman, contributed 23 points in only 26 minutes of play, converted on eight of 12 field goal attempts and had no turnovers. Senior swingman Dwayne Jackson contributed 12 points, six rebounds and three steals.
Rosario finished with 14 points and two assists. Echenique had nine points, 12 rebounds and three blocks, and N’Diaye scored five, pulled down nine boards and blocked four shots for Rutgers.
Rivera and junior transfer Emanuel “Tiki” Mayben, who struggled in the game, finishing with zero points, four assists, four rebounds and three turnovers in 26 minutes, were thought to be mainstays in the starting lineup, though they both came off the bench against the Scarlet Knights. Broadus said he would like to see a more consistent effort out of the two in practice before they retain their starting jobs.
“Whoever plays the best in practice will get the start — simple as that,” he said.
The Bearcats felt right at home at “The RAC,” Rutgers’ home gym, thanks to a wonderful turnout of Binghamton alumni and current students. The support did not go unnoticed by Broadus.
“When the clock was winding down, hearing our fans saying that this is our house … it was an unbelievable feeling,” he said. “We had as many fans in there as they did. It was one of those things that will stick with you for the rest of your life. We have the best fans in the league by far.”
The next stop for the Bearcats will be Bucknell University (1-6) of the Patriot League. The Bison lost, 71-68, in overtime earlier this year to America East foe Boston University and is currently on a three-game losing streak. The game will take place today, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m.