By The Daily Item
BINGHAMTON -- Bucknell's weekend road trip got off to a slow start, as the Bison struggled offensively in a 64-60 loss at Binghamton on Friday night at the Events Center. Two days after scoring 98 points in an emotionally charged overtime loss to Cornell, the Bison managed only 13 points in the first half, and despite one 3-point flurry in the second half, could not make up an 18-point second-half deficit.
Reserves Mike Muscala and G.W. Boon led the Bison with 14 and 12 points, respectively, but the Bison (4-5) received only 23 points from its starting five. Greer Wright led four Binghamton (3-5) players in double figures with 16 points.
It was a miserable first half for the Bison, who shot only 24 percent (6-24) from the field and missed their final eight 3-point attempts after Darryl Shazier hit one on the first offensive possession of the game.
Binghamton went 0-for-16 from 3-point range in its 63-60 loss at Sojka Pavilion last season, but in this one the Bearcats came out and knocked down treys on three straight possessions to grab a 9-3 lead. It was an 11-9 game when Binghamton embarked on a 10-0 run, keyed by 3-pointers from Moussa Camara and Wright.
The Bearcats stretched their lead to 14 at 27-13 on two Camara free throws with 1:30 left, closing out the first-half scoring.
A Kyrie Sutton free throw gave Binghamton an 18-point lead at 38-20, but the Bison finally began to hit some outside shots and got themselves back in the game. Boon and Bryson Johnson hit two 3-pointers apiece as part of a 12-3 run. Johnson's trey at the 11:06 mark cut the Bearcats' lead down to nine at 41-32.
Boon hit a third bomb a few minutes later, and Muscala drained a short baseline jumper to bring Bucknell back within seven at 44-37 with 8:41 to play. Stephen Tyree's free throw made it a six-point game, and the Bison had two chances to crawl closer, but Shazier and Boon both had 3-pointers rim out.
Camara answered with a fadeaway jumper, ending Bingamton's six-minute field-goal drought. The Bison then turned it over at the top of the key, and Wright made 1 of 2 free throws to restore a nine-point lead for the Bearcats.
Bucknell cooled back off again in the final four minutes, missing several 3-point tries, but Binghamton missed enough free throws down the stretch to keep the Bison in it. Muscala's layup made it a four-point game at 55-51 with 48 seconds left. Bucknell nearly forced a turnover in the backcourt, but Camara got loose for a breakaway dunk, and Wright, who had missed two free throws moments earlier, hit four straight to stretch four-point leads up to six.
After a Muscala follow, Camara made 1 of 2 at the line, then Boon hit a 3-pointer to make it 62-60 with eight seconds left. Bucknell fouled Camara again on the inbounds, but this time he made both charity tosses to ice it.
Bucknell shot just 37.7 percent from the field and was forced to hurl up a season-high 30 3-point attempts, making eight. Binghamton shot 40.4 percent overall and went 6-for-16 from the arc.
The Bison will now travel to Boston for a Sunday afternoon game at Boston University. Game time is 2 p.m. at Agganis Arena.
