Chris Wilson '10 notched a career-high 9 assists to go with 13 points.

NEW LONDON, Conn. -- The Bates College men's basketball team rallied back from a 13-point first-half deficit to defeat Connecticut College 64-56 at Luce Fieldhouse Friday night.

Sophomore Brian Ellis (Braintree, Mass.) netted 15 points in 22 minutes of action for the Bobcats (11-8, 2-3 NESCAC), shooting 6-for-11 from the field. Junior Chris Wilson (Brewer, Maine) chipped in with 13 points and a career-high nine assists in the triumph for the visitors.

Connecticut College (10-9, 0-5) junior Shavar Bernier (Dover, N.H.) poured in a game-high 18 points to go with three steals. Bernier was an efficient 7-for-10 from the field and 4-for-7 from beyond the arc. Demetrius Porter (Virginia Beach, Va.) had 12 points and seven rebounds in the setback.

The Camels pounced on the Bobcats in the first half, outscoring the visitors 21-8 in the early going. Demetrius Porter (Virginia Beach, Va.) broke free for a dunk with 11:08 to go and Dean Lampe (Hamilton, Mass.) capped the rally with 10:29 remaining, collecting an offensive board to convert a lay in for the Camels.

 

Bates responded by putting together their own 18-5 run in a span of 6:20 to pull even with the Camels. Wilson knocked down a jumper with 3:20 to go and the teams were knotted up at 26 apiece. The Camels regained their advantage just before the intermission. Billy Karis (Potsdam, N.Y.) drained a deep three with 26 seconds left as a part of an 8-3 run that vaulted the hosts out to a 34-29 halftime lead.

In the second stanza, the Bobcats opened the half with a 14-4 run to take a 43-38 lead on first-year Kyle Philbrook's (Auburn, Maine) triple at the 13-minute mark.  Later on with 3:00 minutes to play, Wilson buried a 14-foot turnaround jumper that staked the visitors to their largest lead of the night at 59-51.

Chris Kehoe (Summit, N.J.) converted a lay-in with 27 seconds left that cut the lead to five but it was not quite enough and the Bobcats were able to hold on for the 64-56 win.

The Bobcats will visit Wesleyan in a 2 p.m. NESCAC tilt at Middletown, Conn.

STATS: Bates 64, Connecticut College 56