When the fall semester ended, the Binghamton University men’s basketball team was mired in the longest losing streak in the school’s Division I history and with a 1-7 record, had fallen into last place in the America East.

Since then, the Bearcats (10-10, 6-2) have lost their expected starting center for the season with a herniated disk in his back, lost a promising freshman guard who decided to transfer, and dealt with injuries to several key players, including key guards Richie Forbes and Chretien Lukusa.

Also since that time, the Binghamton Bearcats have catapulted to the top of the America East going 9-3 over the break and scoring key wins over George Washington, Albany, Boston University and Maryland-Baltimore County.

‘The biggest win in the program’s history’

That’s what Kevin Broadus told reporters the losing streak-snapping 71-59 victory over George Washington at the Events Center represented. Binghamton, led by 23 points from Lazar Trifunovic, led from start to finish in the Dec. 16 game, in a game where Broadus defeated his former mentor, GW head coach Karl Hobbs.

‘I know Miami last year was big, and it was at Miami,’ Broadus said. ‘But GW is a three-time NCAA Tournament team. To have a Top-100 team come into your building and beat them, that’s building.’

Finishing Strong

After opening up 1-7 in non-conference games, the Bearcats followed the GW game by winning two of the next three games and avenging some early-season losses.

On Dec. 22, Binghamton avenged a November loss to Chicago State 75-55 at the Events Center. Trifunovic had a game-high 23 points and added 10 rebounds for his fourth consecutive double-double.

The Bearcats had their two-game winning streak snapped at Fordham in a 72-60 loss on Dec. 28. Several hundred Binghamton fans attended the game and at times were louder than the Fordham fans.

The Bearcats bounced back a few days later, ending out the non-conference schedule with a 64-59 win over St. Bonaventure at the Events Center. Trifunovic scored 23 points against the Bonnies and was named America East Player of the Week.

Road Woes Continue at Start of AE Play

Binghamton continued to struggle away from the Events Center as Vermont dominated the Bearcats in Burlington, 71-60 in the first game of the conference season.

Late in the second half, freshman Devon McBride left the bench for what Broadus termed an ‘in-house matter.’ McBride is no longer with the team and, according to Facebook.com, is planning to attend Hutchinson Community College, a junior college in Kansas.

On Jan. 12, Binghamton blew out preseason conference No. 1 Boston University 69-49 at the Events Center. The Terriers have not lived up to preseason expectations and are currently 2-5 in conference play and in second-to-last place.

In the next game, the Bearcats took it to the wire, but failed to win on the road for the eighth straight time, falling at Hartford 80-79. Binghamton rallied from down eight with 2:37 to go, and actually took a one-point lead when Milos Klimovic rattled in a three-pointer with eight seconds to go, but Hartford’s Warren McLendon made his free throws at the other end to give Hartford the win.

The Turning Point

The Bearcats finally snagged that elusive road win on Jan. 12, as Mike Gordon poured in a school-record-tying 32 points to lead BU to a 71-59 victory over defending conference champion Albany. It was the first victory at Albany since 2004.

The game triggered a newfound confidence in the Bearcats, who won their next five in a row.

‘We got that first road win, it makes us more confident going out on the road,’ Gordon said last week before Binghamton headed to New Hampshire.

Binghamton kept the wins coming in the next game, a locally televised, 67-61, victory over Stony Brook. Freshman Brandon Herbert, who has started the past five games, had a game-high 20 points and was named America East Rookie of the Week.

‘He’s learning on the job,’ Broadus said of Herbert. ‘But he’s playing well for us.’

The Upset

The Bearcats nearly squandered an 18-point lead, but held on to beat UMBC at the Events Center 62-59, on Jan. 19, when Reggie Fuller stole an inbounds pass in the final seconds and sank two free throws. Fuller, who had told Broadus he wouldn’t play because of a hurt shoulder the day before, was the star of the game, playing hurt and putting up career highs of 11 points and 12 rebounds.

Fuller is currently fourth in the America East in blocks, averaging 1.4 blocks per game.

‘Reggie’s really good,’ Gordon said. ‘He can really shoot it. Great rebounder, great defensive player. He alters a lot of shots down there. He’s all-around.’

After the game, Broadus said UMBC was ‘one of the best team’s we’ve played all season.’

The Bearcats kept the winning streak alive Thursday, winning at New Hampshire 67-58. Trifunovic led the Bearcats with 19 points.

‘We have to keep the same attitude we had in Albany [at New Hampshire and Maine],’ Trifunovic said after the UMBC game. ‘Those are two really good teams. We just need go to into New Hampshire meaning to win.’

Notes: As of Sunday morning, Gordon ranked third in the America East in scoring for conference games at 17.6 points per game ‘ Richie Forbes currently leads the America East in free throw percentage, shooting .883 ‘ Binghamton’s 62.1 conference points per game is lowest in the America East and its +5.7 average margin of victory is second only to UMBC.