Tonight’s game between Binghamton and Michigan transpired essentially as expected, with the No. 3 Wolverines (10-0) simply outmatching the Bearcats (2-9) en route to a 67-39 win at the Crisler Center.
But also as expected, Binghamton played with energy — a Rayner Moquete three just over seven minutes into the game gave the Bearcats a 10-8 edge — and even as the Wolverines built an insurmountable lead, the Bearcats treated each possession as if they were in the game.
“I was proud of our kids,” head coach Tommy Dempsey told WNBF radio after the game. “I thought our effort was terrific.”
And, if you saw the game on the Big Ten Network, it would be hard to disagree.
Michigan’s length and quickness ultimately proved to be the difference, as the Bearcats spent the entirety of many offensive possessions five feet beyond the three-point line — not because they wanted to but because the Wolverines denied any semblance of penetration. Several possessions ended with Jimmy Gray or Moquete launching NBA-range threes as the shot clock expired.
Michigan missed its fair share of threes — the Wolverines converted 10-of-30 three-point attempts — so a few additional makes would have left the final score slightly more lopsided. But overall, the Bearcats buckled down and defended to the best of their ability against superior athletes for most of the game.
Binghamton, which entered averaging 16 giveaways per game, turned the ball over 13 times. The Bearcats also played with discipline on defense, committing just seven fouls.
Jordan Reed led Binghamton with 11 points and eight rebounds. The freshman scored the Bearcats’ first points of the night, hitting a three off the bounce from the wing, and though he recorded just one dunk, it was a loud one. Moquete missed a jumper with 3:37 left in the first half, and Reed flew in from the weak side, skied above the rim and slammed in the rebound.
Fresh off his second America East Rookie of the Week award, Reed is now averaging 17.4 points and 9.8 boards per game.
With finals and Christmas approaching, Binghamton won’t return to game action until Dec. 28 at Colgate.