BRUNSWICK, Maine - The Wesleyan University men's basketball team tied a school record for single-season wins in a 74-61 victory over Bowdoin on Friday evening.

The Cardinals (18-5, 6-3 NESCAC) tie the program mark set by the 1990-91 squad and, in the process, clinch the third seed for the upcoming NESCAC Tournament. Bowdoin drops to 16-7 (5-4 NESCAC) this season and will be either the #6 or #7 seed in the conference tourney depending on Saturday's results. A Polar Bear win against Connecticut College at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday would seal a rematch with the Cardinals in the NESCAC quarterfinals on Saturday, February 18.

Wesleyan's combination of Mike Callaghan and Derick Beresford proved too much for Bowdoin as the duo combined for 45 points on the night. Callaghan led the way with 25 points and 15 rebounds while Beresford dropped 20 points, including six three-point shots. Shasha Brown also saw double-digits for the Cardinals, scoring 10 points with six assists. Ryan O'Connell had 14 points in the loss for Bowdoin. Will Hanley had 13 points with six rebounds and five blocks.

The Cardinals came out firing in the early going and rode the first-half performance of Beresford and Callaghan (14 points apiece in the frame) to double-up the Polar Bears 28-14 with eight minutes left in the period. Bowdoin made a late charge and was able to cut the lead to eight points at halftime, 38-30, thanks to a late three-pointer from Wyatt Littles before the break.

Bowdoin opened the second half on a 7-0 surge and closed to within a single point, 38-37, after a Maximilian Staiger lay-in just a minute into the half. But that would prove to be as close as the Polar Bears could get as the Cardinals replied with a 6-0 run and, later in the half, went on a 10-0 surge, highlighted by three-pointers from Beresford and Julia Harris to push their lead to 15 points, 58-43, with 8:45 to go. Bowdoin could get no closer than eight points for the remainder of the contest.

Wesleyan held a 48-30 edge on the glass, including a back-breaking 14 offensive rebounds. Neither team shot particularly well, with the Cardinals knocking down 42.2% for the game and Bowdoin netting at a 39.7% clip.