BRUNSWICK, Maine – The Bates College men's basketball team survived a defensive battle against Bowdoin on Wednesday evening in Morrell Gymnasium, taking a 54-50 win over the Polar Bears in the teams' annual non-conference matchup. Bowdoin falls to 5-2 while Bates improves to 7-0.
 
Game Highlights

• The teams combined for just 36 points in the opening half, with Bates shooting 30% from the field and Bowdoin connecting on 25%.
• A layup in the final minute before halftime gave the visitors a 20-16 lead heading into intermission.
• Bowdoin opened the second half on a 7-3 run, tying the game on a jumper by Kevin Reeves four minutes into the period.
• The Polar Bears later used a 9-0 surge, capped by an Adam Bello jumper, to take their largest lead of the game, 32-26, with 12:24 to go.
• Bates answered with a 20-5 run to take an nine point lead, 46-37, with 5:30 to play.
• Bowdoin chipped away, closing the gap to two points on four occasions in the final 3:30 but Bates connected on six free throws in the final 30 seconds to seal the victory.

By The Numbers

• Ray Cuevas led Bowdoin with 23 points in the losing effort, while also grabbing six rebounds. Mason Dawkins had 11 points and five boards.
• Bowdoin finished at 35% shooting for the game while Bates hit on 28%, but the Bobcats took 15 more shots than the Polar Bears, scoring 15 second chance points and taking advantage of 17 Bowdoin turnovers.

Up Next

• Bowdoin will host the UAA-NESCAC Challenge this weekend in Morrell Gymnasium, playing the opening game of a doubleheader against Carnegie Mellon at noon on Saturday, followed by Middlebury and Rochester at 2:30 p.m.