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Navy Rallies from Double-Digit Deficit to Beat Binghamton

Nov. 23, 2014

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UNCASVILLE, Conn. - Senior guard Brandon Venturini tallied 26 points and eight rebounds as Navy (1-4) rallied from 11 down to hold off Binghamton (1-4), 70-68, in the Springfield Bracket consolation game of the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament at Mohegan Sun Arena on Sunday.

"Credit our kids," said head coach Ed DeChellis. "There is no quit in them. We talked about having the will to win and we found a way to make some shots and make some defensive stops and we were fortunate enough to win. I think this was a good barometer for us to see where we are with Binghamton being a much-improved team than they were last year. We can build on this and get better from here."

Binghamton led 53-42 with 13:19 remaining in the second half, but Navy chipped away with a combination of defensive stops and timely buckets to even the game at 62-62 with 5:10 to go. Navy then took the lead and was able to hold off a late Binghamton rally to seal its first victory of the season.

"When Binghamton went on their run, we knew we had to go on a run to answer it," said Venturini. "Everyone kept their heads and we just kept fighting."

Venturini hit a pair of 3-pointers during the double-digit rally and junior guard Tilman Dunbar had two buckets. The Mids would then tie the game at 62-62 on a 3-pointer by sophomore guard Zach Fong and then take a three-point lead on another Venturini triple from the right wing.

Fong drew a charge on the ensuing possession and the Venturini made both free throws on a one-and-one to push the lead to five. Binghamton's Dusan Perovic answered with a 3-pointer to cut the lead to two, but Venturini would extend the lead again with two more free throws with 34 seconds left.

Binghamton's Romello Walker then hit a 3-pointer, the team's eighth of the half, to cut Navy's lead to one at 69-68 with just 25 seconds remaining. Binghamton then fouled Dunbar, who made one of two free throws, and then Navy got the ball back after sophomore Edward Alade blocked a shot. With five seconds to go, Venturini threw a pass ahead to an open James Hemphill to run out the clock, but Hemphill was not able to contain the pass and the ball sailed out of bounds. Binghamton inbounded the ball and Navy fouled, while being under the limit, to slow the advance. Binghamton inbounded again with 3.6 seconds remaining and Willie Rodriguez missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Venturini was 9-of-13 from the floor, 4-of-6 on 3-pointers and 4-of-4 from the free throw line. His 26 points and eight rebounds were both season-highs. It was his fifth 20-point game of his career. For his efforts, Venturini was named to the Hall of Fame Tip-Off All-Tournament Team.

Dunbar added 11 points, six assists and five rebounds in a team-high 37 minutes. Fong made three 3-pointers for nine points. At the center position, Alade had nine points and three rebounds while junior Will Kelly had four points and six rebounds.

Freshmen Daniel Noe and Bryce Dulin both played solid minutes for Navy. Noe had five points, three rebounds and two steals in a season-high 24 minutes, while Dulin had four points in 19 minutes. Navy received 22 points from its bench on Sunday. Navy had a season-low nine turnovers and outrebounded Binghamton, 33-30.

At one point during Binghamton's run to build its 11-point lead, the team hit 3-pointers on four straight possessions. After shooting 3-of-7 on 3-pointers in the first half, Binghamton was 8-of-16 from beyond the arc in the second half.

Rodriguez led Binghamton with 15 points and he also had seven rebounds. Yosef Yacob tallied 12 points while Nick Madray added 10.

Navy has defeated Binghamton in each of the last three seasons.

Navy will begin a three-game homestand by hosting Division III Penn-State Harrisburg on Wednesday evening at Alumni Hall.

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Players Mentioned

Bryce Dulin

#24 Bryce Dulin

Guard
6' 4"
Freshman
Daniel Noe

#35 Daniel Noe

Forward
6' 5"
Freshman
Zach Fong

#12 Zach Fong

Guard
5' 11"
Freshman
James Hemphill

#32 James Hemphill

Forward
6' 6"
Freshman
Edward Alade

#55 Edward Alade

Forward / Center
6' 9"
Freshman
Will Kelly

#0 Will Kelly

Forward
6' 9"
Freshman
Tilman Dunbar

#10 Tilman Dunbar

Guard
5' 10"
Freshman
Brandon Venturini

#33 Brandon Venturini

Guard
6' 0"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Bryce Dulin

#24 Bryce Dulin

6' 4"
Freshman
Guard
Daniel Noe

#35 Daniel Noe

6' 5"
Freshman
Forward
Zach Fong

#12 Zach Fong

5' 11"
Freshman
Guard
James Hemphill

#32 James Hemphill

6' 6"
Freshman
Forward
Edward Alade

#55 Edward Alade

6' 9"
Freshman
Forward / Center
Will Kelly

#0 Will Kelly

6' 9"
Freshman
Forward
Tilman Dunbar

#10 Tilman Dunbar

5' 10"
Freshman
Guard
Brandon Venturini

#33 Brandon Venturini

6' 0"
Sophomore
Guard