BRUNSWICK, Maine – The Williams College men's basketball team pulled away in the final five minutes of an 85-66 victory over Bowdoin on Friday evening at Morrell Gymnasium. The fourth-ranked Ephs extend their winning streak to seven and improve to 20-1 (6-0 NESCAC) as the Polar Bears drop to 13-6 (2-4 NESCAC).

The Ephs had five players in double-digits, led by 19 from James Wang and 17 with eight rebounds from Troy Whittington. Hayden Rooke-Lay (14), James Klemm (12) and Brian Emerson (10) also saw double figures for the visitors. Bowdoin was led by 15 points and 12 caroms by Will Hanley. Ryan O'Connell dropped in 14 points for the Polar Bears while Justin Nowell pitched in 11.

The Ephs built an 11-point lead, 24-13, midway through the opening period following an Emerson three-pointer. The Polar Bears clawed back with an 18-6 run and took the lead when Will Hanley found Matt Mathias open under the hoop for a basket that gave the hosts a 31-30 advantage with 6:13 remaining in the half. Williams responded by closing the first half on a 14-2 run before a Hanley dunk prior the buzzer made it 44-35 Ephs at intermission.

The Ephs pushed their lead to 15 points in the second half with an 11-2 run, only to see the Polar Bears respond with a 9-2 surge to trim the advantage to 64-58 with 5:51 remaining. Williams killed any hopes of a late Bowdoin rally, however, with a decisive 13-2 surge over the next two minutes, capped by a Troy Whittington jumper, to seal the win.

The Polar Bears will host Middlebury College on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.

Photos courtesy of Brian Beard and Creative Images Photography.