In the coming week, Binghamton University’s men’s basketball team will have the opportunity to take over first place in the America East conference.

But before the Bearcats (14-8, 7-3 AE) can take on conference powers Albany and Boston University, the Bearcats will have to avoid looking past pesky Stony Brook (13-10, 5-5 AE) tomorrow at 4 p.m. in a televised game.

The Seawolves, the league’s most improved team from a year ago, sit in fifth place in the league. Last season they finished in last place at 3-13 in America East play and graduated most of their impact players. But the replacement of Ricky Lucas, Mitchell Beauford and Emanuel Neto with newcomers Muhammad El-Amin, Bryan Dougher and Tommy Brenton, has been smoother than anyone could have imagined.

El-Amin, a junior guard, is one of the conference’s best shooters, averaging 15.2 points per game on .409 3-point shooting. Dougher, a freshman, is equally adept behind the arc, averaging 11.7 points per game on .406 3-point shooting.

“El-Amin is really good. Dougher, too,” said Binghamton University head coach Kevin Broadus. “They have some really good talent. They are as talented as we are.”

One of the biggest transformations for the Seawolves has been post play. Brenton, a freshman, averages 7.4 points per game and pulls down an impressive 9 rebounds per game. Demetrius Young, an offensively-minded, skilled 6-foot-6-inch senior forward, is capable of a big game. He scored 21 points twice this season, most recently against Hartford.

The game will be a reunion of sorts for Broadus, who spent time on the same coaching staff as Seawolves head coach Steve Pikiell when the two were assistants at George Washington University. Broadus attributes his friend’s turnaround this year to Stony Brook’s strong recruiting class.

The Bearcats, for their part, are coming off an emotional win over then-No. 1 University of Vermont.

“I think our guys are so worn down and tired, we just have to keep marching forward. We are realizing we don’t have time to be tired,” Broadus said.

As for looking forward to Albany, Broadus is trying to keep his team focused.

“We’re not looking forward past Stony Brook,” Broadus said. “We know how improved Stony Brook is; they have beaten some of the best teams in the league. We’re not that good that we can look past anyone.”

Bearcat junior guard Malik Alvin, who sat out Wednesday’s game against Vermont due to a sprained MCL, may miss another game.

“I hope he will (be available),” Broadus said. “We’ll see. He shot with the team today at our shootaround.”

Broadus is also unsure if sophomore center Theo Davis will make the trip to Long Island. Davis did not travel to Vermont in order to focus on academics.

The game will be televised on MSG. The teams tip off at 4 p.m.