The goal of exhibition play is primarily to fix problems to prepare for the regular season, rather than getting a victory; winning the game is just an added perk.
The Binghamton University men’s basketball team started unofficial play with a 64-50 exhibition win over visiting Holy Family University this Tuesday. The Bearcats gave fans their first look at a team that was overhauled following the permanent release of six players in late September.
Freshman guard Dylan Talley scored a team-high 14 points and junior forward Greer Wright finished with 12 points, seven rebounds and five steals.
“I think Holy Family was a good test for us,” said interim head coach Mark Macon. “We did a few things better today than we have the last few days, but I am never satisfied.”
Returning veterans and team captains Chretien Lukusa and Moussa Camara had impacts on both ends of the floor. Lukusa had 12 points and six assists while Camara had a strong start and finished with 12 points as well.
With the loss of former guard Emanuel “Tiki” Mayben, the Bearcats have lacked a strong point presence. Lukusa and Talley split most of the game at point guard with mixed success.
“We’re doing it by committee,” Macon said on the point guard situation. “Talley and Chretien in the beginning; [but] everyone needs to know how to start our offense.”
Lukusa, who hadn’t really seen much play at the point since his freshman season, has taken the new responsibility seriously.
“I didn’t have a problem with it,” Lukusa said on playing point. “I enjoy having the ball in my hands; I was comfortable.”
The Bearcats opened up a 15-5 lead in the first five minutes off three 3-pointers, two by Camara. BU maintained at least a seven-point lead the rest of the half, taking a 31-22 lead into the break. Holy Family held a 22-21 rebounding edge despite the deficit.
“The next couple days in practice, we’re going to work on rebounding,” Lukusa said. “Also cutting down our turnovers; we had a lot of unforced [mistakes]. They are things we cannot allow to happen.”
Despite being a Division II school, Macon gave Holy Family a lot of credit for their play.
“They played extremely hard, and to come in here and play us as hard as they did, I tip my hat to [Holy Family head coach Alfred Johnson] and his coaching staff, as well as his kids,” Macon said.
This was the first collegiate game situation that many of the Bearcats had ever participated in, and for Lukusa it was an important benchmark for the team’s progress.
“It was a good feeling, getting back out there [giving] the good energy,” he said. “We got a lot of guys who are confident in their ability to play. We’re still really optimistic on the season; this game was a learning tool but it’s not a moral victory. It opened our eyes on what we needed to work on the next couple days in practice.”
A scoring drought plagued the last eight minutes of the first half for both teams, as each only scored two points during the span.
“It was bad all around,” Macon said. “We just got to try to manufacture points and that’s a fault of my own; I need to teach these guys how to manufacture a bucket.”
Camara still sees the team’s need for constant improvement.
“We gotta get better,” he said. “We need to put more pressure on the ball, go to the basket more often and get to the free-throw line. We’re in learning process right now.”
The Bearcats turn to regular season play this weekend when Division II Bloomsburg University pays a visit to the Events Center. This will be the official kickoff to the Bearcats’ 2009-10 campaign. Bloomsburg went 4-23 last season, including 1-13 in league play. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m on Saturday.