Center:

Boston: Omari Peterkin is the man in the middle with 6.5 rebounds per game (second in the AE) and 1.58 blocks per game (first in the AE), shooting 48 percent from the field (eighth in the AE). CHECK

Bing: The closest Bing comes to a true center is Jaan Montgomery, who averages just seven minutes a game. Gio Olomo is quick but very, very foul prone.

Forwards:

Boston: Freshman Scott Brittain is a solid four-man alongside Peterkin, averaging 5.7 rpg. Boston will usually play a three-guard set.

Bing: Lazar Trifunovic is a front-runner for AE Rookie of the Year, shooting 49 percent from the field (fourth in AE) with 6.4 rpg. Steve Proctor (11.4 ppg) can get hot quick. CHECK

Guards:

Boston: Carlos Strong lit up Binghamton for 30 last time out, but he’s hardly Boston’s top guard. Corey Lowe and Tyler Morris combine for 28.4 ppg. CHECK

Bing: Some consider Mike Gordon the AE’s best point guard. Forbes-Proctor-Gordon combine for 34.1 ppg. Troy Hailey is an inconsistent 1,000-pt. scorer.

Bench:

Boston: Slim pickings for the Terriers, who keep a very tight rotation. Brian Macon shoots 33 percent from three and Ibrahim Konate is serviceable. PUSH

Bing: Slim pickings for Al Walker, who uses his whole bench, sometimes to a fault. Forbes could go for 25 or zero. The muscular Minja has improved. PUSH

Coach:

Boston: Dennis Wolff is in his 13th year with the Terriers. They have a recent history of choking in the tournament, winless since 2003. Smart coach, though. CHECK

Bing: Al Walker has guided the Bearcats from D-II to D-I. The 2006-07 season has been a disappointment, but Bing has won its last two quarterfinal games.

Intangibles:

Boston: Boston has beaten Binghamton twice this year, but three straight years of postseason disappointments now weigh on the host Terriers. Pressure anyone?

Bing: Pressure’s on Boston, but Bing’s 2-6 on the road. Gordon’s the league’s best pressure player ‘ can he pull this one off? I guess someone’s got to win ‘ CHECK

Prediction: When Boston came to Binghamton over winter break, the Bearcats made Omari Peterkin look like Shaq. Those 12 rebounds seemed more like 20 ‘ it felt like every loose ball ended up in his hands, especially on the offensive glass. The Bearcats will have to continue to rely on the 3-ball, which Boston has proved it can keep up with via its three-pronged freshman guard attack. A lot has to go right for Binghamton to win this game. If Lazar picks up two fouls before the 12-minute mark of the first half, it’s over. If Peterkin gets six offensive rebounds again, it’s over. If Minja starts unleashing Hulk-like screams of frustration ‘ at any point ‘ it’s over. And if Forbes doesn’t play at least 24 minutes, in my mind, it’s over. For Binghamton, this year seems destined to be a wash, despite the late-season mini-resurgence. Too much Peterkin. Boston 48, Binghamton 45.