April 12, 2003

Vestal, N.Y. - The Binghamton men's tennis team barely edged Stony Brook, 4-3, in an America East Conference dual match on Friday afternoon.

The Bearcats captured the doubles point, winning the No. 2 and No. 3 matches. The duo of Jean-Francois Robitaille and David Hewitt lost, 8-6, at the No. 2 spot, while the No. 3 tandem of Michael Crooks and James Carpenter were edged, 8-6. The No. 1 team of Gareth Williams and Egil Anonsen were winning, 7-5, but the match was not finished since the Bearcats had already won the point.

With a 1-0 lead heading into singles competition, Binghamton then won three of the six matches. Akshay Rao handed Gareth Williams a 6-1, 6-1 loss at the No. 1 spot. At No. 2 singles, Crooks dropped the first set, 6-4, but battled back for a three-set victory, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. At No. 3 singles, Binghamton's Edwin Gerard edged Egil Anonsen, 7-5, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (4). At No. 4, Robitaille won a hard-fought match, 7-6 (4), 1-6, 6-3. The Bearcats' Brian O'Connor took three sets to defeat James Carpenter at No. 5, 6-3, 1-6, 6-1. No. 6 Philippe Amireault recorded a 6-2, 6-4 win over Steve Spencer.

Stony Brook is scheduled to face Vermont on Saturday.