Binghamton bears down on RC

When the 2009-10 men's basketball schedule was announced, it featured a non-conference slate coach Mark Schmidt said his improving program needed to play. Four teams on the non-conference schedule made the NCAA Tournament, three from major conferences.

After a double-digit victory over Cleveland State last Friday, the Bonnies lost to Big East member St. John's, 69-68, Tuesday in Rochester, N.Y.

The team looks to regroup at home tonight against Binghamton, followed by three games in as many days Nov. 27-29. The Bonnies will compete in the BTI Classic hosted by Illinois State.

The first and second round matchups pit them against Southeast Missouri State and Norfolk State, respectively, with the consolation and championship rounds on the final day.

With each team searching for its second win, Binghamton comes to the Reilly Center for the second time in three seasons. In the 2007 season opener, Schmidt earned his first victory as Bonnies head coach with a 97-80 victory over the Bearcats.

But Binghamton has a different look than last season's team which won a school record 23 games and captured the America East regular season and tournament championships. The Bearcats fell to No. 2 seed Duke in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

In September, the program dismissed five players, a day after point guard Emmanuel "Tiki" Mayben was arraigned on cocaine distribution charges and kicked off the team. The university also placed head coach Kevin Broadus on a paid leave of absence, replacing him with assistant Mark Macon.

The Bearcats enter the game following a 71-46 loss to Pittsburgh Tuesday and without players who produced 90 percent of its offense last season. Macon has four freshmen and six scholarship players.

Among the three letterwinners returning are junior guards Chretian Lukasa and Moussa Camara. The 6-foot-2-inch Lukasa is the team's top defender averaging six points and five rebounds per game, while Camara averages 11 points and a .417 clip from three point range.

Greer Wright, a 6-foot-7-inch forward, is the team's leading scorer and rebounder averaging 12.0 points and 6.5 rebounds. Through two games, he dished out seven assists in 37 minutes of play.

Schmidt said the preparation for Binghamton doesn't change, regardless of the inexperienced roster.

"We're not good enough to overlook anybody," Schmidt said. "We have to prepare like we're playing the best team in America. If we don't, then we're going to lose. I think coming off a loss we'll be ready mentally and physically to play. They might not have as many (good) players, but they have players."

He added the loss Tuesday night must be an afterthought to pull out a victory.

"You can't have a hangover, and we need to be ready to play," he said. "Was it tough? Absolutely. We've had losses before and we have to bounce back and show maturity."

Playing in Rochester for the first time since 2005, the Bonnies remained in the game until the final seconds. With just 11 ticks remaining, Andrew Nicholson sank two free throw attempts, giving the Bonnies a 68-67 lead.

However in the next possession, St. John's guard Malik Boothe was fouled going through the Brown and White's full court pressure and converted two free throws to seal the game.

Nicholson scored a game-high 26 points on 11-of-15 shooting from the field. Jonathan Hall added 12 points and six rebounds, while Da'Quan Cook added nine.

The Bonnies outscored the Red Storm 44-30 in the paint, and shot 57 percent (26-of-46) from the field.

Included in that figure is 1-for-8 from three-point range, which Schmidt said is credit to St. John's perimeter defense.

"We didn't defend the three in the first half," he said. "I thought from an offensive standpoint we executed well. We didn't shoot the ball well from the perimeter, but the way they played they prevented you from shooting the ball.