Jordan Reed had already scored four points in the final minute to keep Binghamton alive, but his potential game-winning shot from just inside the foul line was blocked and the Bearcats fell to Mount St. Mary’s 71-70.
After holding a lead for most of the game, Binghamton (2-6) allowed the Mountaineers (3-3) to go on a 9-1 run and take a 69-63 advantage with 54 seconds left. But the Bearcats didn’t quit. Reed got to the rim on consecutive possessions, and Jimmy Gray nailed a clutch three-pointer with 16 seconds left to make it 71-70.
Binghamton fouled Julian Norfleet, who had not hit a foul shot all day. The lefty missed both attempts at the line, leaving the Bearcats with a chance to win
Reed was the obvious choice to take the last shot because of his ability to create, get in the lane and finish in traffic. But the freshman bobbled the ball at half court, which left him with little time to make a play. Reed worked his way into the lane and pulled up, but Kristijan Krajina’s hand met the ball.
Tommy Dempsey and the Binghamton bench begged for a foul, but the referees had called the game over.
When asked if there was contact on the final shot, Reed said: “No comment.”
Binghamton led by as many as 14 in the first half, but the Mountaineers rallied from a 32-18 deficit to enter halftime trailing 34-30.
“I think our energy level dipped,” Gray said. “We always talk about energy level, and…before we went into the second half, we gave them a chance to get back in the game.”
The teams exchanged baskets early in the second half, and Binghamton used a 7-0 run to take a 47-39 lead with 15:41 left. Mount St. Mary’s answered with two three-pointers from Sam Prescott and a pair of free throws to tie it at 47. From there, neither team led by more than two points until the Mountaineers’ run down the stretch.
“I think in the beginning of the season we were taking the court hoping to win, and although we only have a couple of wins, just being in games every night I think that guys are getting prepared with a different mindset,” Dempsey said. “I think the expectation now is we’re going to have a good chance to win and that’s a real positive sign as we’re moving forward through this. I’m excited right now that these guys are coming together.”