VESTAL, N.Y. - Senior Joseph Bull (Bronx, NY/Mount St. Michael Academy) recorded his seventh double-double of the season behind a season-high 26 points and 12 rebounds as the Oneonta men's basketball team fell to Division I Binghamton 86-58 on Saturday afternoon. The game counts as an exhibition for the Red Dragons and does not count for the team's overall record. 

"Binghamton did a great job of making it hard to score, especially at the rim," stated head coach Cameron Conover. "Their defensive presence caused us to miss some layups we usually make. Our guys played hard, but it is clear we have to be more consistent in all aspects of the game."

Oneonta fell behind early after the Bearcats (4-7) used a 9-0 run to take a ten-point lead at 16:34. Senior Daniel Derice (Tampa, FL/Wesley Chapel) scored two straight layups to make it 12-6. Binghamton's Taveion White threw down a dunk to push the lead to eight, but jumpers from Derice and Bull cut the lead to five. Senior Michael Ortale Jr. (Delmar, NY/Bethlehem Central) netted an inside basket to put the score at 15-12, but Matt Solomon responded with a triple to start a 5-0 span. Bull scored the following three Oneonta baskets to keep the game within single digits, and a layup at 8:55 put it at 24-18. 

With under six minutes in the half, sophomore Graham Wooden (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta) converted a pair of free throws to make it a nine-point contest. Binghamton scored the following five points, and then an Armon Harried jump shot pushed the Bearcats lead to 37-26 at 1:51. Masud Stewart sank a triple with five seconds left to give Binghamton a 41-27 lead at the break. 

Binghamton continued to build its lead in the second before Bull drained a three-pointer at 18:34 to cut the lead to 44-31. The Bearcats rattled off an 8-0 run to lead by 20 points before a Bull layup and a triple from Derice. Ortale scored off a Caleb Brown (Brooklyn, NY/Uncommon Charter) pass to cut the lead to 17 points, but it was all Binghamton afterward. The Bearcats led by as much as 34, but Oneonta netted the final points, with Khallyn La Fond (Brooklyn, NY/Knox School) and Elijah Castillo (Bronx, NY/St. Raymonds) picking up baskets in the last minute.

Bull shot 12-of-24 from the field and had two assists, one block, and a steal. Ortale scored nine points with four boards and two assists. Derice had nine points, eight rebounds, and three blocks. The Red Dragons tied the Bearcats 41-41 in rebounds.

Harried picked up a double-double for Binghamton with 12 points and 12 rebounds. He also had three blocks, three assists, and three steals. Solomon netted 12 points. 

"I look forward to breaking down today's film, and I think we will be able to learn a lot from the game," finished Conover. "Our guys will enjoy the long break with family and friends, and we will all be excited to get back together in ten days." 

Oneonta has a break until they play Wheaton (Ill.) in the Stevens Tournament on Thur. Dec. 29 at 5 p.m. in Hoboken, N.J.