Graham Safford scored 21 points in the second half to bring Bates past Babson in the Babson Invitational championship game, Nov. 16, 2014. (File photo by Phyllis Graber Jensen/Bates College)

WALTHAM, Mass. -- Senior Graham Safford swished a 3-pointer with 1.8 seconds remaining, his 21st point of the second half, giving Bates a 54-51 decision over No. 23 nationally ranked Babson in the championship game of the Babson Invitational on Sunday night.

Safford (Hampden, Maine) traded passes with junior Mike Boornazian (Portland, Conn.) as the game clock wound down, then dribbled around the top of the arc for a couple of seconds before quickly releasing the game-winning shot under four seconds left on the clock.

The two-year captain Safford was named tournament MVP after finishing with a game-high 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting, including 4-of-8 on threes. In Saturday's 81-78 win over Nichols, Safford had 22 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.

Boornazian added 14 points and a team-high seven rebounds, and was also named to the all-tournament team.

Bates (2-0) outscored Babson (1-1) 36-23 in the second half, shooting .583 from the field in the period (14-24) and .556 behind the arc (5-9), with Safford making 4-of-5 in the half.

Babson's John Wickey led all players with a season-high 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting. Sam Bohmiller came off the bench to score eight points, and Joey Flannery added seven points and game highs of nine rebounds and four assists.

Bates scored the first six points of the game but the Beavers countered with a 14-0 run, capped by a three-point play by Wickey, to go ahead 14-6 at the 12:27 mark. Wickey followed a Bohmiller three pointer with a tip in and a jumper  to give the Beavers their biggest lead of the night at 26-13 with 4:32 to play in the first half.

Leading 28-18 to start the second half, Babson was held scoreless over the first 6:16 of the period before a triple by Wickey made it 31-22. Back-to-back hoops by Safford and Boornazian cut the deficit to 36-33 with 9:11 to go, and five straight points by Safford got the Bobcats within a point at 44-43 with 5:16 to play. The Beavers missed a layup on their next possession and Saffard buried a three pointer to give Bates its first lead since the early moments of the game.

Another hoop by Safford gave Bates a 48-45 lead before two free throws from Flannery and a jumper by Wickey put Babson back in front 49-48 with 2:47 remaining. After empty trips for both teams, Bates sophomore Marcus Delpeche (Wilmington, Del.) tipped in a Boornazian miss and was fouled, and then knocked down the free throw to put the Bobcats regain a 51-49 edge with 1:43 to go. Babson's David Mack then tied it with a layup two possessions later with 32 ticks left.

With Bates holding for the final shot, Safford broke down a defender from just inside of half court and then calmly buried a pull three pointer for the win. After a timeout the Beavers could only muster a half court heave to tie the game that was well off the mark.

Bates will next play at Husson on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 1pm.