LEWISTON, Maine (Alumni Gym) -- Bowdoin College utilized a timely 33-19 run over the final 12:50 of regulation to run away from Bates College in what was otherwise a back-and-forth affair as the visiting Polar Bears iced the Bobcats, 79-63, Wednesday evening in the home opener for the garnet and white. 

After completing a first half that consisted of 10 ties and eight lead changes, the in-state foes appropriately entered intermission locked in a 35-35 stalemate.

Points in the paint by Babacar Pouye (19:47) and Simon McCormick (18:00) provided the 'Cats a 39-35 edge early in the second stanza. Three more lead changes and another knotting would ensue before Bowdoin's James McGowan (Westwood, Mass.) connected on a three-pointer, putting the Polar Bears ahead for good at 46-44 with what would ultimately be the game-winning hoop.

Both squads provided similar showings from the floor with Bowdoin edging its host, 41.3%-39.1% in field-goal percentage. The Polar Bears also drained 19-of-29 free-throw attempts while the Bobcats only got to the charity stripe 14 total times (8-for-14).

The aforementioned McGowan closed the night with an impressive double-double showing consisting of 10 rebounds and a game-high 26 points. The junior guard poured in four of eight three-point attempts and provided a perfect 8-for-8 from the line. McGowan accounted for 16 of Bowdoin's 35 first-half points.

Kevin Reeves (Houston, Texas) also enjoyed a double-double performance with 15 points and 10 boards. After being held scoreless over the first 20:00, the sophomore forward exploded for all 15 of his points (along with eight rebounds) in the subsequent stanza.

Alex Halpern (So.-New York, N.Y.) added 12 points and a game-best six assists. Afamdi Achufusi (Jr.-Washington, D.C.) fell one rebound short (nine rebounds, 10 points) of making it a trio of double-doubles for the victors.

McCormick paced the Bobcats with 17 points on the evening, including successfully hitting on three of six three-point attempts. Marc Begin II has reached double-digits in each of his first two collegiate contests as the first-year guard deposited 15 points in 19 total minutes. Brady Coyne went 5-for-9 from the field, finishing with 12 points in 23 minutes off the bench for Bates.

Bowdoin improves to 1-2 with the win while the Bobcats slip to 0-2 to start the year. The rivals will square off again on Friday, February 2 at Bowdoin in what will serve as the official NESCAC game on the conference calendar.

The garnet and white now heads to Springfield, Mass. where they will take on Kean University (N.J.) this Saturday at 6:00 p.m. in the Western New England University Tip-Off Tournament.