Jan. 2, 2010
Box Score
BINGHAMTON, NY - Binghamton used an 18-0 run midway through the second half to come back to beat La Salle, 66-61, on Saturday at the Events Center. Senior Rodney Green had 20 points while classmate Kimmani Barrett added 17.
"We're shell-shocked right now," La Salle head coach Dr. John Giannini said. "They played a good zone defense and we didn't knock down our shots. Binghamton did everything right during that second-half run."
The Explorers took a 48-33 lead with 13:49 to play on junior Jerrell Williams' slam but Binghamton put together an impressive rally to take its first lead since the opening minutes of the first half. Over the next five minutes, the Bearcats made eight-of-nine shots and received nine of the 18 points from freshman Pina Guillaume to take a 51-48 advantage with 8:31 to play.
La Salle (7-6) missed all eight shots during the stretch but continued to fight and had several chances to tie the game after the BU lead stretched to as many as seven with 1:38 remaining.
The visitors were able to cut the deficit to two on a pair of possessions but were hurt by a 4-for-8 performance from the free throw line in the final two minutes.
Barrett, who is averaging 17.0 points per game over his last four games, started out hot for La Salle. The senior scored 13 of his points in the first half as the Explorers built a 14-point lead near the end of the first stanza. But the Bearcats scored the final two baskets of the half and took the momentum into intermission trailing 37-27.
LU was out-rebounded for just the fourth time this season and lost for the first time after leading at the break. It was also the first time the Explorers lost after holding their opponent to 70 points or less.
Binghamton (5-10) was led by Greer Wright's 20 points and nine rebounds. Guillaume added a career-high 19 points, while Chretien Lukusa had 15 and six assists.
La Salle will look to snap a three-game losing streak at Tom Gola Arena with the Atlantic 10 opener on Thursday versus Xavier. The game will be televised nationally on CBS College Sports and tips at 7 PM.
