WALTHAM, Mass. – Junior Graham Safford scored a game and career-high 33 points – his third game this year with 30 or more points – but Bates College men's basketball lost to Brandeis University, 83-78, on Tuesday night at Red Auerbach Arena.

With the score tied at 71-71, the Judges (8-3) connected on 10-of-12 free throws inside of the last four minutes to seal the win over the Bobcats (7-4). Brandeis has won the matchup between the two teams in each of the last five seasons.

A 3-pointer from Safford (Hampden, Maine) closed the visitors' gap to 80-78 with 15 seconds left, but Brandeis' Derek Retos converted two free throws on the ensuing possession to help ice the victory.

Safford shot 13-of-21 from the floor and 5-of-11 from 3-point distance in addition to recording six assists and five rebounds. Sophomore Mike Boornazian (Portland, Conn.) notched his fourth double-double of the year and the sixth of his career with 16 points and 10 rebounds, and junior Billy Selmon (Atlanta, Ga.) posted 11 points and five steals.

Bates senior captain Luke Matarazzo (Shelton, Conn.) played for the first time since the team's season opener against UMaine-Augusta on Nov. 15 due to injury, scoring four points over 14 minutes.

For the hosts, Retos came off the bench to score a team-high 18 points while Ben Bartoldus followed with 16 points. Gabriel Moton tallied 13 points and six rebounds, and Alex Stoyle added 12 points and five boards.

Trailing 56-55 with 12:32 to play, the Judges used a 13-2 run to take a 68-58 lead with 8:34 remaining. Bates countered with eight straight points to spark a 13-3 stretch, as Safford netted nine, to knot the game at 71-71 with 3:55 left, but the visitors could not reclaim an advantage.

Foul trouble affected the Bobcats' front court rotation as first-years Malcolm Delpeche (Wilmington, Del.) and Marcus Delpeche (Wilmington, Del.) each picked up two fouls in the first half. Malcolm took on his fourth foul just over five minutes into the second stanza and disqualified with 6:03 left. Marcus picked up his fourth foul with 8:34 to play.

The two teams played within two possessions of one another over the game's first 10 minutes, but 14 consecutive points from Brandeis allowed the Judges to turn a 19-18 deficit at the 12:19 mark of the first half into a 32-19 lead with 8:37 remaining in the period.

The Bobcats responded with a 21-6 run over the next seven-plus minutes to regain a 40-38 advantage with a minute left in the opening stanza. Safford knocked down a trio of 3-pointers during the streak – providing the run's last six points. The Judges then netted the half's final five points including a 3-pointer off the backboard from Retos at the buzzer.

Next, Bates opens NESCAC play at Middlebury on Friday at 8 p.m. while Brandeis begins UAA play at NYU on Saturday at 4 p.m.