Zak Ray '07 got the Bobcats going when the going got tough at Wesleyan.

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. -- Senior Zak Ray's three-pointer to open the overtime period gave the Bates College men's basketball team a lead it didn't relinquish as the No. 19 nationally ranked Bobcats beat Wesleyan University 59-56 Friday night on the road for their fifth straight win.

A Bates possession with five offensive rebounds led to three more points and a 58-54 lead with 2:50 left in overtime.

Ray hit another three-pointer with 1:42 left in regulation to give Bates a 52-50 lead, after the Cardinals' Jared Ashe made a steal and a layup for a 50-49 Wesleyan lead. Wesleyan's Robert Kelly made two free throws with 32 seconds left in regulation to tie the game and send it into overtime.

Ray led Bates (16-2, 2-2 NESCAC) with 13 points and five assists, while junior Bryan Wholey (Marshfield, Mass.) added 12 points to go with seven rebounds and four steals. Junior Pat Halloran (Plymouth, N.H.) scored 11 points and senior Damon McGinn (Thetford, Vt.) grabbed a game- and career-high 10 rebounds. Bates All-NESCAC senior forward Rob Stockwell (Temple, N.H.) struggled all night, finishing with two points and two rebounds on 1-of-9 shooting in 25 minutes of action before fouling out.

Kelly scored a game-high 23 points to go with seven rebounds for Wesleyan (6-11, 2-2), and Ashe added 14 points and eight rebounds.

Bates plays at Connecticut College on Saturday at 3 p.m.

STATS: Bates 59, Wesleyan 56 (OT)