ALBANY, N.Y. -- Emanuel Mayben scored 14 of his 19 points in the second half to lead top-seeded Binghamton to a 72-67 win over fourth-seeded New Hampshire in the semifinals of the America East Men's Basketball Championship at SEFCU Arena Sunday afternoon. The Bearcats reach the title game for the first time in program history and will host sixth-seeded UMBC next Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Events Center in Vestal, N.Y. in a game televised nationally on ESPN2.
The tightly contested game featured 13 ties and 16 lead changes before Reggie Fuller converted a three-point play with 1:18 to go to give Binghamton (22-8) the lead for good. Tight Bearcats defense forced a pair of turnovers to hold off the Wildcats, who were bidding for their first berth in the final in their 28 seasons in America East.
Binghamton jumped out to an early lead but New Hampshire battled back to take a 36-34 lead at the half.
The hard-fought game swung back and forth with nine lead changes in the second half and UNH would go up by five, 67-62, with 2:22 remaining until the Fuller put back and free throw to give the Bearcats a 68-67 edge. A breakaway dunk by D.J. Rivera and two subsequent free throws by Mayben in the last eight seconds would ice the win.
In addition to Mayben, Rivera finished with a game-high 26 points and added eight rebounds. Malik Alvin chipped in with 10 points and three assists. Binghamton shot 41 percent from the field and hit 6-of-18 three-point attempts to win its Division I program-record 10th straight victory.
New Hampshire senior Tyrece Gibbs led his team with 18 points and five assists while Colbey Santos scored a career-high 17 points on four-of-five shooting from beyond the arc. As a team UNH hit nine three-pointers in 21 tries and outrebounded Binghamton, 40-35, for the contest. The Wildcats, making their second trip to the semifinals in the last four years, finish their season 14-16 overall.