VESTAL, N.Y. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a blistering start and a tense, grinding finish, the Massachusetts-Lowell River Hawks held off a persistent Binghamton Bearcats squad for a 73-68 victory in an America East Conference men’s basketball game Saturday afternoon at the Events Center.

The River Hawks, who led wire-to-wire, improved to 8-10 overall. The Bearcats fell to 4-14.

The most critical phase of the contest was its opening five minutes, which set a tone the Bearcats spent the rest of the evening trying to overcome. Massachusetts-Lowell exploded from the tip, hitting its first four shots, including three-pointers from Xavier Spencer and Darrel Yepdo, to race out to a 10-0 lead before the first media timeout. Binghamton, meanwhile, started 0 for 3 from the field with a turnover.

That initial burst established a cushion the River Hawks would rely on heavily. They maintained their offensive efficiency throughout the first half, shooting 7 of 12 from three-point range before the break. Spencer, a guard from Calgary, Canada, was instrumental in building the lead, scoring 15 of his 18 points in the opening period. His backcourt mate, Yepdo of Dracut, Massachusetts, added nine early points as the River Hawks took a 45-36 lead into halftime.

The second half became a battle of attrition, defined by defense and missed opportunities. Massachusetts-Lowell’s offense cooled dramatically, managing only 28 points after halftime and shooting just 20 of 30 from the free-throw line for the game. Binghamton, led by the dynamic play of guard Jeremiah Quigley, consistently chipped away at the deficit.

Quigley, from Accokeek, Maryland, delivered a complete performance with 18 points, five rebounds and eight assists, orchestrating the Bearcat offense and repeatedly attacking the paint. His connection with forward Zyier Beverly, who scored 11 points, provided Binghamton with crucial interior baskets. The Bearcats dominated points in the paint, 40-30, and closed the gap to a single possession multiple times in the final minutes.

However, each time Binghamton threatened, the River Hawks found a necessary response. With the lead trimmed to 65-63, Massachusetts-Lowell’s Angel Montas, a forward from the Dominican Republic, hit a critical three-pointer with 1:38 remaining to push the advantage back to five. Montas finished with 17 points and four rebounds.

Binghamton had several chances to tie or take the lead in the final two minutes but was undone by turnovers and missed shots. A key sequence occurred with 21 seconds left and Binghamton down 68-67. Quigley was fouled and went to the line for two shots but made only the second, leaving the Bearcats still trailing by one.

After Massachusetts-Lowell’s Victor Okojie split a pair of free throws to make it 69-68 with 11 seconds left, Binghamton had a final chance. But Quigley, driving for a potential go-ahead basket, lost the ball out of bounds with nine seconds remaining under pressure from the River Hawks’ defense. Yepdo then sealed the game by making two free throws with 2.2 seconds on the clock.

While the River Hawks’ shooting faded, their defensive effort persisted. They matched Binghamton with 11 turnovers but generated eight steals and five blocks. Austin Green of Sicklerville, New Jersey, provided a strong interior presence with 12 points, eight rebounds and a block. Shawn Simmons of Philadelphia contributed five points, four rebounds and three blocks.

For Binghamton, Wes Peterson of Alexandria, Virginia, posted 13 points and nine rebounds, while Bryson Wilson of Washington, D.C., added 14 points and five boards.

The game, played before a crowd of 1,651, was a study in contrasting efficiencies. The teams had an identical 69 possessions, but Massachusetts-Lowell’s offensive rating of 105.4 outpaced Binghamton’s 98.5, a direct result of the early advantage they built and just enough plays to protect late.

Massachusetts-Lowell will look to build momentum when it hosts NJIT on Thursday. Binghamton seeks to end its skid on the same afternoon with a road game at Albany.