Mike Boornazian drives in Bates' game against Amherst on Jan. 18, 2014. (Phyllis Graber Jensen/Bates College) 

NEW LONDON, Conn. – Sophomore Mike Boornazian led all scorers with a career-high 39 points, but Bates College men's basketball could not overcome a double-digit second-half deficit in an 84-77 loss at Connecticut College on Saturday afternoon in Luce Field House.

The Bobcats (10-9, 1-5 NESCAC) trimmed their margin to six points with 1:09 to play after the Camels (9-9, 2-4 NESCAC) held a lead as large as 22 points early in the second half but could not complete the comeback.

Boornazian (Portland, Conn.) shot 11-of-18 from the field, 6-of-10 from 3-point distance, and 11-of-12 from the free throw line in the game, netting 32 of his points in the second half, to go with 10 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the year. 

Boornazian's 32 points in the second half are a Bates record, surpassing the 27 scored by Steve Williams vs. Suffolk in the 1987-88 season. His total outpouring is the most by a Bobcat since 2003, when C.J. Neely netted 43 against Colby-Sawyer.

For the Camels, Matt Vadas scored a team-high 27 points, hitting 4-of-8 shots from behind the arc, while Zuri Pavlin grabbed 20 rebounds in addition to 10 points. Mason Lopez registered 24 points on 8-of-13 shooting including 6-of-10 shooting on 3-pointers.

For the visitors, first-year Marcus Delpeche (Wilmington, Del.) tallied his first career double-double on 10 points and 11 rebounds, and junior Billy Selmon (Atlanta, Ga.) posted 11 points.

Even play marked the start of the game as Conn. College took a 19-16 lead just under seven minutes into the contest. The Camels then used a 22-5 run to capture a 20-point, 41-21 lead with 2:46 left in the opening period. The hosts brought a 43-25 edge into the locker room.

Conn. College pushed its lead to as large as 22 points at 49-27 about two minutes and 30 seconds into the second half before Bates began to rally. The Bobcats outscored the Camels, 22-11, over the next seven-plus minutes to pull within 60-49 at the 9:56 mark. Boornazian accounted for 18 of the team's points during the stretch as he hit four 3-pointers and six free throws.

The Camels staked a 75-58 advantage with 3:02 left, but Bates rattled off a 13-2 spurt to pull within six points, 77-71, with 1:09 remaining. Conn. College then made enough free throws in the final 70 seconds to hold on for the win.

Next, Bates plays at UMaine-Farmington on Tuesday at 7 p.m. while Conn. College plays at Amherst on Friday at 8 p.m.