STATS: Bates 76, UMaine-Farmington 56

Pat Halloran '08 scored a career-high 20 points.

LEWISTON, Maine -- Rob Stockwell, Pat Halloran and Bryan Wholey combined for 60 points and the Bates men's basketball team rode a 20-point halftime advantage to a 76-56 non-league win over UMaine-Farmington on Thursday night.

Bates, ranked No. 17 nationally in Division III, is now 8-0, a tie for the best start in program history with the 2004-05 team.

The Beavers (2-3) received 17 points from junior Isaac Hutchinson (Oakland, Maine), and 12 points and 13 rebounds from first-year Josh Tanguay (Gorham, Maine). Junior Sean Fry (Jay, Maine) added 10 points and eight rebounds.

Stockwell (Temple, N.H.) shot 9-for-15 from the floor for a game-high 21 points to go with 12 rebounds and three steals in his fifth double-double of the season. Halloran (Plymouth, N.H.) scored a career-high 20 points, knocking down 5-of-9 three-pointers, and Wholey added 19 points to go with nine rebounds. Senior Zak Ray (Bangor, Maine) collected 10 assists, four rebounds and three steals.

The Bobcats scored the game's first 11 points, while taking nine of the game's first 10 shots, as the Beavers committed six turnovers before getting on the scoreboard. Bates extended the lead to as many as 22 before halftime and led 45-25 at the break.

UMF went on an 11-2 run in the second half to whittle the lead down to 12 with 10:39 left in the game, but a three-pointer by first-year Chris Wilson (Brewer, Maine) began a 12-2 Bates run to put the game out of reach.

Bates outrebounded UMF by a 53-39 margin and moved the ball well, with 20 assists on 27 field goals.

The 8-0 start by the 2004-05 Bobcats at the time represented the longest win streak in program history, but that record was eclipsed last season with a 16-game run.

Head coach Joe Reilly expressed satisfaction with Bates' perfect start, welcoming the opportunity to send the team away for the holiday break on such a positive note. Reilly singled out the contributions of junior Eric Shone (Portland, Maine), who started in the Bobcats' first game this season and played key roles in significant wins as a freshman, but suffered a season-ending injury early last season and then was hurt in this season's opening game. Shone is aiming for a return to action next semester.

Bates is off until Jan. 5, when it will play Elms College at Union College's Sig Makofski Tournament. The Beavers will host the University of New England on Saturday.