BURLINGTON, Vt. (Interstat) — Vermont survived a late scare to defeat Binghamton 60-59 in a low-possession America East men’s basketball game Thursday night at Roy L. Patrick Gymnasium. The Catamounts, now 10-7, escaped despite shooting just 13-for-24 from the free-throw line. The Bearcats fell to 4-13 despite leading 36-31 at halftime and holding Vermont to 21-for-48 shooting from the floor. Jeremiah Quigley led all scorers with 21 points for Binghamton. Gus Yalden paced Vermont with 15 points. The game featured just five combined assists, and Vermont’s final point came on a Momo Nkugwa free throw with 18 seconds remaining for the one-point margin. Attendance was 1,874.

BURLINGTON, Vt. (Interstat) — In a game defined by grit over grace, the Vermont Catamounts escaped with a narrow 60-59 victory over the Binghamton Bearcats in a defensive struggle at a tense Roy L. Patrick Gymnasium on Thursday night. The America East Conference contest, played before 1,874 fans, was a far cry from the lopsided affair oddsmakers predicted, culminating in a frantic final sequence that saw the Catamounts snatch victory from the jaws of a stunning upset. The game’s defining, chaotic chapter unfolded in the closing 18 seconds with Vermont clinging to a 58-57 lead. Binghamton’s Jeremiah Quigley, who delivered a heroic performance with 21 points and eight assists over 40 minutes, was fouled on a drive and calmly sank both free throws to put the Bearcats ahead 59-58. On the ensuing possession, Vermont’s TJ Long missed a stepback jumper that was blocked by Binghamton’ Zyier Beverly, but the Catamounts retained possession. Off the inbounds, Vermont found freshman Momo Nkugwa cutting to the basket, where he was fouled by Quigley with just 1.8 seconds remaining. Nkugwa, a reserve who provided crucial energy off the bench with eight points, sank the first free throw to tie the game. After a Binghamton timeout meant to ice him, the guard from Chelmsford, Massachusetts, swished the second to put Vermont back in front 60-59. Binghamton had one final chance. Inbounding from the far baseline, the Bearcats got the ball to Quigley, who drove the length of the court. His contested layup attempt in traffic was blocked from behind by Vermont’s TJ Hurley as time expired, sealing the Catamounts’ heart-stopping win. The dramatic finish capped a game where Vermont’s offense never found its rhythm but its defense and interior presence proved just enough. The Catamounts, favored by 19.5 points, were held to a season-low in points and a frigid 13-of-24 performance from the free-throw line. They survived on the strength of a 28-12 advantage in points in the paint, led by Gus Yalden’s 15 points and Ben Michaels’ eight points and key late-game block. Binghamton, which fell to 4-13 overall and 0-2 in conference play, executed a deliberate game plan to near-perfection. The Bearcats controlled tempo, limited Vermont’s transition opportunities to just two fastbreak points, and forced eight turnovers while committing only seven. Their defensive effort was anchored by Wes Peterson’s 11 points and three blocks and Beverly’s nine points and three blocks. The Bearcats led for much of the first half, building a 36-31 advantage at the break behind Quigley’s orchestration. Vermont slowly chipped away in the second half, with Nkugwa’s activity and a timely three-pointer from Jackson Skipper keying a 7-0 run that gave the Catamounts a 47-40 lead midway through the period. Binghamton refused to fold, responding with a 9-2 run of its own, capped by a Quigley-assisted three-pointer from Peterson, to tie the game at 49 with just over nine minutes to play. The teams traded blows in a tense, possession-by-possession final stretch featuring five lead changes and two ties, setting the stage for the last-second drama. Vermont improved to 10-7 overall and 2-0 in the America East. The Catamounts will host Maine next Thursday. Binghamton, which has lost five of its last six, looks to rebound quickly, hosting Massachusetts-Lowell on Saturday.

Preview: Binghamton Bearcats at Vermont Catamounts BURLINGTON, Vt. (Interstat) — The Vermont Catamounts look to build on a decisive conference-opening win when they host the struggling Binghamton Bearcats in an America East men’s basketball matchup Thursday night. Vermont (9-7, 1-0 America East) enters after an 80-61 road victory at New Hampshire last Saturday. The Catamounts were led by a balanced attack, with Sean Blake scoring 17 points, grabbing five rebounds and dishing six assists, while TJ Hurley added 20 points. Blake has been a consistent force, averaging 14.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists over his last five games. Binghamton (4-12, 0-1) seeks to end a five-game skid, most recently a 73-65 home loss to NJIT. The Bearcats have lost 10 of their last 11 games, with the lone win in that stretch coming against non-Division I opponent Elmira. Guard Bryson Wilson, who scored 15 points against NJIT, will be a key. He has reached double figures in three of his last five contests. The Catamounts have dominated the recent series, winning 16 of the last 17 meetings. Vermont’s defense, which held New Hampshire to 36.2% shooting, will challenge a Binghamton offense averaging 68.8 points per game. Vermont’s home court at Roy L. Patrick Gymnasium has been a stronghold, where they are 6-2 this season. Binghamton is 1-8 in road games. For Binghamton, containing Blake and Hurley will be paramount. For Vermont, avoiding a letdown against a conference foe at the bottom of the standings is the focus. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST. Vermont’s next game is at home against Maine on Jan. 15, while Binghamton hosts UMass Lowell on Jan. 10.