WESTON, Mass. - Senior Grant White scored a career-high 20 points to lead the Bowdoin College men's basketball team to an impressive 80-55 win over Western Connecticut State University in its season debut Friday at the Regis College Tip-Off Tournament.

The Polar Bears (1-0) advance to play the host Pride tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. for the tourney title. The Colonials drop to 0-1 with the loss.

White added nine rebounds and connected on 8-12 shots from the field, including 3-5 from three-point range, for the night. John Swords posted a double-double with 11 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks. Keegan Pieri (14 points) and Lucas Hausman (11) also saw double-figures for Bowdoin. Jengodji Gates led Western Conn. with 13 points.

Behind 15 points from White and 58% shooting from the field in the opening stanza, Bowdoin sprinted to a 43-33 halftime lead. The Polar Bears squashed all hopes of a comeback as they opened the second half on a 15-3 run, opening up a 58-36 advantage with under 13 minutes to play.

The Polar Bears dominated on the glass, holding a 54-26 advantage in rebounding and totaling 34 points in the paint.