Long Beach State University
1-6
Binghamton
4-3
Long Beach State Stunned By Binghamton 72-64
11/24/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (HTML)
Fort Myers, Fla. - A strong start defensively slipped away in a hot-shooting second half for Binghamton as the Bearcats dropped Long Beach State 72-64 in a neutral game at Florida Gulf Coast's arena as part of the Battle4Atlantis Mainland on Thanksgiving.
Gabe Levin finished with a double-double, while Evan Payne led the Beach with 14 points and Jordan Griffin added 10 points to finish in double-figures for the third time as a freshman.
In front of a sparse crowd, both teams started slowly offensively, with Long Beach State (1-6) opened the game by scoring the first four points, with the 4-0 score lasting over the first six minutes of play.
Layups from Payne and Noah Blackwell would eventually open up the lead to nine points, and while Long Beach State didn't pull away, the 49ers were spectacular in defense against Binghamton (4-3), holding the Bearcats to just 17 points in the first half.
The Beach would hold the lead for most of the second half, but the defensive edge started to slip away as the game went on. Dusan Petrovic, who tied with J.C. Show with a game-high 21 points, hit 4-of-5 three-pointers in the second half, as Binghamton chipped into the Long Beach State lead after the first eight minutes.
A Petrovic three cut the Long Beach State lead to two at 44-42, but the 49ers were able to hold off that first challenge. A Show 3-pointer tie the game at 47-47, and while a Justin Bibbins bucket gave Long Beach State one final lead at 51-49, a jumper from Show with 4:34 to play put the Bearcats on top for good. Binghamton extended the lead to seven points to hold onto the win down the stretch.
Long Beach State plays one more game in the Battle4Atlantis, facing the hosts Florida Gulf Coast on Friday, November 25 at 5 p.m. PT. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3.
