They trust each other.

Head coach Al Walker echoed those four words after his men’s basketball team romped over Mansfield 94-71 Friday night. The Bearcats hope to continue their winning ways in their second and final exhibition game of the season as they play host to Division II St. Rose at the Events Center on Saturday at 1 p.m.

With a week left before the long-anticipated home opener against Niagara, the pressure is on the Bearcats to mesh as a team and get ready to compete in the wide open America East Conference.

“We plan on doing big things this year,” said senior guard Andre Heard. “Everyone in Binghamton is going to be surprised.”

In Friday night’s win, not only did returning stars Heard and point guard Mike Gordon net 16 and 18 points, respectively, but newcomer junior forward Duane James scored 12 points and had a team-high seven rebounds.

The St. Rose Golden Knights are led by senior forward Brad Shove, who averaged 14.9 points per game last year. Binghamton will be looking for revenge tomorrow as they kicked off the 2004-05 season with a 82-76 loss to St. Rose at the Events Center.

Exhibition or not, the trust Walker discussed will grow after every victory for the Bearcats, both within the team itself, and also with their fans across Binghamton.