LEWISTON, Maine -- David Reynolds poured in a game-high 29 points, including a huge three-pointer late in the second half, to lead the Bowdoin College Polar Bears past the Bates men's basketball team by a score of 78-73 Saturday afternoon at Alumni Gym.
Bowdoin (7-12, 2-5 NESCAC) led by 13 points at halftime before the Bobcats (10-9, 2-4 NESCAC) rallied, cutting the Polar Bear lead to two on a bucket from first-year Omar Sarr (Dakar, Senegal) with 1:56 remaining in regulation. Then Reynolds drilled a dagger three from the right wing on the other end, putting Bowdoin back up by five at 74-69. The Bobcats cut the lead to three a couple times on points from senior Jeff Spellman (Boston, Mass.) but Bowdoin's Morgan Edwards made all four of his free throws down the stretch to secure the victory for the visitors.
Sarr finished with a double-double for Bates, tallying 14 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Senior Tom Coyne (Falmouth, Maine) helped key the rally in the second half, hitting four threes and scoring all 14 of his points over the final 20 minutes of action. Spellman also finished in double figures with 12 points on 4-6 shooting.
Xander Werkman had a monster first half for Bowdoin, scoring 17 of his 19 points before foul trouble slowed him in the second half.
The Bobcats took a 9-7 lead on a Spellman layup with 16:19 left in the first half but Reynolds answered with a layup of his own and Bates never led again. A Stephen Ferraro three-point play with 14:23 on the clock put Bowdoin ahead for good at 12-9. The Bobcats stayed within shouting distance until the final five minutes and change in the first half. A Gilpin three cut the Bowdoin lead to 35-32 with 5:30 left before Bowdoin went on a 10-0 run, opening up a 13-point lead on a Reynolds jumper with 2:42 remaining.
The Polar Bears shot 60% from the floor in the first half and led 49-36 at halftime.
Reynolds hit a three with 15:29 remaining in regulation, putting the Polar Bears up 17. Then the Bobcats began to chip away, getting to within nine points at 61-52 on a layup from first-year Stephon Baxter (Worcester, Mass.) with 10:21 on the clock.
Bowdoin still led by 10 with 7:26 left before Sarr made a layup, Bowdoin's Drew Gagnon made a free throw, and Sarr scored four unanswered points, including an emphatic dunk, making the score 69-64 with 4:49 to go. Bates continued to edge closer, making it a two-point game on another Sarr bucket. But then Reynolds hit his three on the other end and Bowdoin closed out the game for the Polar Bears' second conference win of the season.
Free throw shooting was one big difference on Saturday. Both teams made 20 free throws. But Bates missed 10 free throw attempts, five more than Bowdoin. And the Bobcats ended up losing by five. The Polar Bears cooled off from their hot start, but still shot 44.8% from the field compared to Bates' 31.9% shooting. The Polar Bears out-rebounded Bates 48-36. But the Bobcats stayed in the game thanks to turnovers. Bowdoin turned the ball over 16 times and Bates only turned it over six times. The Bobcats scored 22 points off turnovers and the Polar Bears scored just five points off turnovers.
The Bobcats look to get back on track Friday when they visit Connecticut College. Tip is set for 7pm.
Gallery: (2-1-2020) Men's Basketball vs. Bowdoin (Theophil Syslo)
