WEST HARTFORD, Conn. -- Mark Nwakamma scored 23 points as Hartford edged Binghamton 71-68 Wednesday night in the teams' America East Conference opener.

Nwakamma scored the first eight points of the second half, when the Hawks (8-6) scored the first 10 points to wipe out the Bearcats' 26-23 halftime lead.

Hartford led 64-57 lead with 2:53 left, but Rayner Moquete's three-point play helped Binghamton (2-12) get to within 64-62 with 48 seconds to play.

Wes Cole, who had missed his first eight shots for Hartford, then hit a 3-pointer, and his two free throws with 14 seconds left made it 69-62.

The Bearcats weren't quite done. Jimmy Gray and Moquette hit 3-pointers to make it 69-68 with 3 seconds to go before Yolonzo Moore II finished them off with two free throws.

Gray scored 24 points to lead Binghamton, which has lost eight in row, but the last two by just five points combined.