VESTAL, N.Y. – Getting their early season tune up game in to start the 2023-24 season, the D'Youville University men's basketball traveled to Binghamton University falling by a score of 88-56 in the exhibition Wednesday evening.
 
The Saints were led offensively by Nasir Hammonds (Norfolk, Va.) and Trayton Trice (Romeoville, Ill.) with eight points each while Luke Theisen (Lake View, N.Y.) and Chase Jenkins (Titusville, Fla.) each chipped in with seven points. Trice and Hammonds led the way on the glass as well, grabbing eight and five rebounds, respectively.
 
DYU jumped out to an early 9-6 lead in the first five minutes of action as Theisen cashed in a three-pointer on the fast break. The Bearcats answered with a three of their own by Dan Petcash. DU used that momentum to go on a 20-2 run to make it 29-11 with under 10 minutes until halftime.
 
D'Youville kept battling back and got a jolt of offense from Hammonds and Dut Kuol (Aweil, South Sudan) as they scored back-to-back buckets to make it 31-17 at the five-minute mark. DYU saw another quick set of offense as Nelson St. Louis (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) knocked down a jumper and Bryson Birdsong (Winter Haven, Fla.) hitting a pair of free throws at the charity stripe to make it 46-23 going into the break.
 
Coming into the second half, the Saints got out to fast start going on a 5-0 run with baskets from Theisen and St. Louis as well as a free throw from Trice to make it 46-28. BU quickly regained the momentum, scoring five straight points of their own to push their lead to 51-28 with under 17 minutes left in the half.
 
With 10 minutes left in regulation, the Saints went on a 6-1 run which was started by a three-pointer from Dawson Matsell (Hamilton, Ontario) off the dish from Jenkins. The run was also helped by Jenkins knocking down a free throw and a jumper in the paint from Hammonds to make it 65-36.
 
The Bearcats controlled the paint with a 52-38 advantage while also holding a 48-35 rebound edge. The Saints did hold the slight edge in second chance scoring, 10-9.
 
DYU will go for real next Friday, November 10th, as they face Dominican University on day one of the Caldwell University Conference Challenge at 5 p.m.