JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Binghamton leaned on free-throw shooting and timely defensive adjustments to edge Saint Peter’s 58–55 on Thursday night. The teams entered halftime tied 27–27, and neither side established much separation in a game that featured eight lead changes and 14 ties. The Bearcats outscored the Peacocks 31–28 after the break to secure the three-point victory.
The opening half was a grind. With 12:45 remaining, the score stood at 6–6, reflecting how difficult it was for either team to generate sustained offense. Saint Peter’s initially showed man-to-man coverage and applied pressure following inbound plays. The Peacocks also struggled at times to create clean looks, while Binghamton repeatedly earned trips to the foul line. Two early sequences supplied energy: Saint Peter’s Elijah Perkins finished a putback dunk, and Binghamton center Demetrius Lilley converted a strong inside basket through contact for an and-one opportunity.
Saint Peter’s forward Xavier Thomas opened the second half with a corner three and later connected on additional shots from that area to keep the hosts close. Thomas finished with 13 points and seven rebounds, going 3-for-6 from beyond the arc. His perimeter contributions mattered in a game in which Saint Peter’s shot just 6-for-23 (26.1%) from three-point range overall.
The two teams presented different defensive looks as the half progressed. Binghamton relied on man-to-man principles, using its length to switch across matchups, while Saint Peter’s shifted into a 3–2 zone. With approximately seven minutes remaining, the Bearcats also showed a 2–3 zone look that pressured the Peacocks’ guards. Those changes tested Saint Peter’s ball movement during an already low-scoring contest.
Saint Peter’s guard Bryce Eaton carried a major share of the offensive organization, producing 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists while playing all 40 minutes. Eaton found opportunities driving to the basket and from midrange, and his communication was noticeable on both ends. His aggressiveness helped generate offense, although a few hurried decisions also showed the value of reading the defense before committing to a play.
For Binghamton, Jeremiah Quigley’s ability to draw fouls was the biggest statistical difference. Quigley scored a game-high 28 points, including an extraordinary 18-for-20 at the foul line. Binghamton made 25 of 35 free throws as a team, compared with Saint Peter’s 15 of 20. At the 4:51 mark of the second half, Binghamton held a narrow 48–47 lead; its continued trips to the stripe helped it stay ahead in a tense finish.
Lilley supplied the interior complement with 11 points and 14 rebounds, using strength and footwork near the basket. He set effective screens, rolled into scoring positions and brought visible energy to Binghamton’s frontcourt. Free throws remained an area for improvement, as he went 3-for-7 at the line. The Bearcats held slight advantages in total rebounds (30–29) and points in the paint (22–16), even though they shot just 33.3% from the field to Saint Peter’s 35.4%.
For Saint Peter’s, Eaton’s playmaking and Thomas’s perimeter shooting offered positives to build upon. Binghamton, however, made the more decisive plays at the foul line. In a matchup separated by a single possession, Quigley’s foul-drawing and Lilley’s work inside ultimately provided the difference.
This article was written by Jarrett Pinckney of NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.
We are looking for those interested in our basketball scout apprenticeship program. For information contact us and forward your resume.
