The Sacred Heart University men's basketball team dropped a 76-72 decision to host Binghamton University, Saturday afternoon at the Events Center in Vestal, N.Y. The loss drops the Pioneers to 0-3 on the year and the Bearcats improve to 1-3.

Cameron Parker scored a career-high 23 points, hitting 9-17 from the field. The sophomore had eight boards and six assists in 33 minutes of action. The Bearcats had two 20-point scorers, with 27 from Sam Sessoms and 21 from George Tinsley.

The Pioneers play their home opener on Tuesday, when Brown visits the Pitt Center. The game, set for 7:00 pm, will air on SNY and is the SHU Take Back The Night event.

Turning Point

• Parker tied the score with a field goal in the paint, 46-46, with 13:38 to play
• Binghamton hit 5-7 from the field over the next 3:30 to spur a 14-5 run that opened a nine -point edge (60-51) with 10:08 to play, that it would not relinquish

Pioneer Points

• E.J. Anosike corralled a game-high 15 rebounds, five on the offensive glass
• Kinnon LaRose scored in double figures for the third straight game, with a dozen
• Jare'l Spellman had a blocked shot, the 100^th of his career and is only the sixth-player in program history to reach the century mark
• Koreem Ozier scored a season-best 16 points, and Aaron Clarke tallied 10 points

By The Numbers

• Four Pioneers had eight or more rebounds, as SHU finished the game with a 53-42 edge on the glass
• Sessoms had a double-double for Binghamton, with 27 points and 12 boards, to go along with six assists
• Tinsley also had a double-double, with 12 rebounds
• SHU was good on 40.3 percent from the field, 27-67, while the Bearcats were 29-77, 37.7 percent
• The game featured five ties and three lead changes
• SHU led for 23:35 of the game

First-Half

• Parker opened the scoring with a three pointer, four seconds into the game
• SHU built a 14-0 lead, 3:41 into the game shooting 5-8 during the stretch
• A LaRose free throw at 15:39 gave the Pioneer the largest lead of the game, 15-0
• Binghamton opened the game 0-5, hitting its first shot 4:33 into the game, when Tinsley knocked down a three-pointer
• That basket began a 14-4 Binghamton run over 3:22, as the Bearcats closed within five points, 19-14
• Zach Pffafenberger scored in the paint at the 11:47 mark and Clarke hit three two possessions later, to push the Pioneers advantage back to 10, 24-14 with 11:04 to pay in the half
• The Bearcats answered that with a 13-3 run, drawing even at 27-27 on a Brenton Mills basket from behind the arc
• SHU maintained the lead over the final minutes of the half, pushing its lead to as much as four on a Clarke basket with 1:52 before the break, 34-30
• Tinsley made a three-pointer for the Bearcats with one tick on the clock and the Pioneers went to the locker room leading by one, 34-33

Second-Half

• Parker began the scoring in the second-half as well, with a fast-break hoop after he corralled a defensive rebound
• Binghamton took its first lead at the 17:34 mark on a Yarden Willis put back, 37-36
• A LaRose put fast break basket off a missed Willis free throw gave SHU the lead back and his free throw made it 39-37
• Sessoms tied the game, 39-39 with 16:30 to play
• Parker hit a mid-range jumper at 16:16, that was followed by an Anosike conventional three-point play at 15:47, to push the Pioneers to a 44-39 advantage
• The Bearcats scored the next seven points, the last two on a Sessoms jumper in the paint, for a 46-44 lead with 14:10 remaining
• After Parker scored to tie the game, 13:53, 46-46, Binghamton scored 11 of the next 16 points to build a 57-51 advantage
• Binghamton pushed its lead to nine points, twice, the last time 67-58 with 6:13 remaining
• A LaRose three pointer, surrounded by Parker basket over a 2:13 stretch, drew the Pioneers within two, 67-65
• Binghamton hit 5-6 from the free throw line in the final 22 seconds to secure the win