Considering that three of Maine’s top players were out due to injuries, how much stock can we put in Binghamton University’s 80-55 rout of the Black Bears on Sunday?

Truthfully, not much. Maine is hurting badly right now, as one of only two America East teams to lose to Stony Brook. But one thing is clear after Sunday’s game: Dwayne Jackson is ready to make his mark in the postseason.

Jackson shot 11-15 from the field including 3-3 from behind the arc to lead the Bearcats with a career high 26 points. Everyone, including Kevin Broadus, knows Jackson can score, so it was in some ways more impressive that he tallied five steals as well.

“The scoring’s going to come; he knows how to score,” said Broadus. “His job is to come off the bench and give us a spark, which he did today.”

In conference games, Jackson has become a key contributor, averaging 10.8 points per game via efficient shooting. During Binghamton’s winning streak over the winter break, he had a six game stretch where he scored double figures nightly. What makes his ascent noteworthy, however, is that he spent two years under the previous coaching staff buried on the bench.

Even earlier this season, he had trouble finding his role and earning playing time. In his homecoming at Akron, he played just 13 minutes and scored only three points. Against Maine, he made up for it by having a career best game in front of his visiting relatives.

Now, his role is well-defined. When teams play a 2-3 zone defense against the streaky-shooting Bearcats, Jackson plays in the middle of the zone. Because he has a strong mid-range game, and defenders sag off to guard Lazar Trifunovic and Reggie Fuller, he can make the opposition pay with a jumper. When they start contesting his shots, he can step back for a 3-pointer or pass to an open big man. It helps that at 6 feet 3 inches, Jackson is the tallest guard in Binghamton’s rotation.

“(Maine was) more worried about our foul line and below than our 3-point shooters, so when I was hitting shots they came out and then it was real easy to drop it down to Laz and Reggie,” said Jackson.

DJ’s late surge, however, is not just about the X’s and O’s. The biggest change from last year is a healthy dose of every shooter’s best friend: confidence.

“I’m definitely more confident now,” Jackson said. “I was feeling good out there.”