ALBANY, N.Y. (Interstat) — Amir Lindsey scored 23 points and dished out seven assists to lead the Albany Great Danes to a 69-53 victory over the Binghamton Bearcats in an America East Conference men’s basketball game on Thursday night at SEFCU Arena.

A crowd of 1,120 watched the Great Danes improve to 6-12 overall, while Binghamton fell to 4-15.

The game was a defensive struggle for much of the first half, with both teams enduring scoring droughts and turnovers. Albany held a narrow 27-24 lead at halftime. The decisive shift came early in the second half when the Great Danes unleashed a 17-6 run over a span of just over five minutes, transforming a three-point edge into a commanding 44-30 advantage with 14:07 remaining. The surge was fueled by balanced scoring and stifling defense that held the Bearcats to just one field goal during the stretch.

Lindsey, a 5-foot-10 guard from Framingham, Massachusetts, was the catalyst throughout, controlling the tempo and scoring from all levels. His backcourt partner, Zach Matulu, a hometown product from Albany, added 14 points. The interior was anchored by Okechukwu Okeke, who contributed 12 points and two blocks, and Tarique Foster, who also chipped in 12 points off the bench.

Binghamton was led by Wes Peterson’s 13 points, while Jeremiah Quigley and Jackson Benigni added 10 and nine points, respectively. The Bearcats struggled to find consistent offense, particularly from beyond the arc, and were hampered by 15 turnovers that Albany converted into 18 points.

The Great Danes’ second-half explosion proved insurmountable. Every time Binghamton attempted to mount a comeback, Albany had an answer, often through Lindsey, who scored 15 of his points after halftime. His driving layup with 59 seconds left provided the final points of the game, sealing the 16-point margin.

Albany shot 44 percent from the field for the game, while Binghamton managed just 34 percent shooting. The Great Danes also dominated in the paint, outscoring the Bearcats 36-24.

The most critical sequence of the game occurred between the 17:53 and 14:07 marks of the second half. With Albany leading 29-27, the Great Danes clamped down defensively, forcing multiple Binghamton misses and turnovers. On the offensive end, the run was a collaborative effort: Foster and Abdoulaye Fall hit three-pointers, Matulu scored on a putback, and Lindsey capped it with a floating jumper and a deft assist on an alley-oop dunk to Okeke. This burst took the air out of Binghamton’s resistance and allowed Albany to control the remainder of the contest with confidence.

Binghamton, which has now lost three straight conference games, will look to rebound at home against Maryland-Baltimore County on Monday. Albany, which has won two of its last three, will host Vermont on the same night.