BRUNSWICK, Maine – The Bowdoin College men's basketball team nearly overcame a 16-point deficit but lost an eventual 67-58 decision to Bates on Friday night in Morrell Gymnasium. The Polar Bears fall to 10-7 (0-3 NESCAC) while the Bobcats improve to 7-7 (1-2 NESCAC).
 
Game Highlights

• Bates was in command early, pushing their lead to as many as 16 points, 32-16, with under three minutes to go in the opening half.
• Bowdoin chipped away at the lead before the break, cutting it to ten, 32-22, at intermission thanks to a 6-0 run to close the period.
• The Bobcats maintained a double-figure lead until midway through the second half, when a 19-5 Bowdoin run, sparked by nine points from Ray Cuevas, cut the lead to 45-43 with 11 minutes to go.
• The teams traded buckets until the six minute mark when a pair of Cuevas free throws deadlocked the game for the first time at 52-52.
• Bates answered with a quick 5-0 run and, despite Bowdoin closing to within one point again with 1:45 to go, were able to close the deal with a 10-2 surge to end the contest, thanks in great part to an 8-8 performance down the stretch from the free throw line.

By The Numbers

• Ray Cuevas finished with a game-high 21 points to go with five boards for Bowdoin.
• Chris Simonds had six points and seven rebounds while Afamdi Achufusi finished with six points as well.
• The Polar Bears shot 35% for the game compared to 43% for the Bobcats. Bates hit 10 three-pointers and went 13-13 from the free throw line in the win.

Up Next

• Bowdoin is off until next Saturday, January 25, when they play at Colby at 3:00 p.m.