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Fourth-seeded New Hampshire (19-11) turned 13 offensive rebounds into 14 more shot attempts and the Wildcats fended off fifth-seeded Binghamton men’s basketball (8-22), 56-51, in an America East quarterfinal game March 2 at Lundholm Gymnasium in Durham, N.H.

Binghamton made three more field goals and held UNH to 27 percent shooting but the Wildcats sank five free throws in the last 1:03 to seal the win.

“Give New Hampshire credit ... they found a way to get it done on a night that I thought we guarded them well and defended at a high level,” head coach Tommy Dempsey said. “They got offensive rebounds to extend some critical possessions and then made their free throws at the end.”

The Bearcats held their last lead, 39-38, when sophomore forward Willie Rodriguez hit a three-pointer from the top of the key. New Hampshire, however, scored the next five points - three courtesy of foul shots - and the hosts never relinquished the lead thereafter.

Rodriguez wound up with a team-high 17 points, with 13 coming in the second half.

Freshman point guard Timmy Rose tallied a season-high 15 points and classmate Everson Davis added 12 points.  The game was tied seven times and featured seven lead changes.  Rose was hot out of the gate for the Bearcats. In just his second collegiate start, he hit his first three shots and tallied seven points in a 1:12 span early in the game. The Bearcats made 4-of-7 to begin and led 14-10 after 5:40. Davis took over midway through the period and wound up with 10 points at intermission.