AVE MARIA, Fla. --- The Ave Maria University men's basketball team tested their NCAA Division-I opponent on Tuesday night, but eventually fell 95-77 to the Binghamton University Bearcats at the Tom Golisano Field House. The Gyrenes led in the first half, and trailed by just six before a Binghamton run early in the second half put the game out of reach.
 
Ave Maria came out of the gates hot, especially from three-point range. The Gyrenes knocked down nine threes in the first half, which propelled the hosts to a 23-22 lead over eight minutes into the game.

A 12-0 run from Binghamton gave the Bearcats the lead for good, but Ave Maria pulled to within six at the conclusion of the first half.
 
Binghamton pulled away in the opening minutes of the second half, scoring 20 of the half's first 23 points. AMU would outscore Binghamton 34-29 in the final 13 minutes of the game, but couldn't overcome the deficit, which held due to the Bearcats' 64.3 percent shooting from the field and 35-26 rebounding edge.
 
The Gyrenes hoisted 37 three-pointers in the losing effort, knocking down 15. Deonte' Dixon led the long distance effort with seven makes from three-point territory. Dixon was tied for the game-high with 27 points. Exor Torres added three triples, and posted a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Tejai Allen (13) and Romello Bates (12) were also in double figures, and accounted for all but seven of Ave Maria's points. 
 
In total, nearly 60 percent of Ave Maria's shots were three-pointers (37 of 62). Ave Maria outscored the Bearcats 45-27 from behind the arc, but Binghamton responded by racking up a 36-14 margin in the paint.
 
Joining Dixon with 27 points was Binghamton junior Bobby Ahearn, who recorded a career high for the America East Conference squad. Five Bearcats scored north of ten points, led by Ahearn and Florida native Fard Muhammad, who scored 16 points. Ave Maria was able to hold leading scorer JC Show to just seven points on 2-of-7 shooting.
 
Ave Maria will play one final game before Thanksgiving, the second of three against NCAA Division I competition. John LaManna and the Gyrenes head across the state for a battle with Florida International University in Miami. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. Binghamton plays the second of their three games in Southwest Florida on Wednesday, battling Florida Gulf Coast University, who hosts AMU next Tuesday.