LEWISTON, Maine -- A 1-0 lead, courtesy of a free throw by the University of Southern Maine's Tommy Whelan (Bronx, N.Y.) 13 seconds into Tuesday's contest vs. Bates College, proved to be the only lead of the evening for the visiting Huskies as the Bobcats, behind 13 three-pointers, defeated USM, 78-68.

The victory marks the first of the season for the garnet and white (1-4) while Southern Maine experiences the agony of defeat after starting the year 4-0.

Both teams traded field goals after the Huskies netted the initial point of the game to tie the score, 3-3, at the 19:08 mark. An Elliott Cravitz three-ball at 18:54 catapulted the 'Cats on a 26-12 run, providing Bates a first-half high 14-point surplus, 29-15, with 8:37 remaining before the break.

The Bobcats' lead would not dip below nine points the rest of the half as Bates cruised into intermission leading by 11 after a Lincoln Rybeck fast-break lay-up with 00:01 left made the score 36-25 heading into the locker room.

A Cody Hawes (5th year-Carmel, Maine) layup at 16:43 of the second inched USM to within seven, 39-32, but that would prove to be the end of the Huskies' hopes as a quick 9-3 spurt by Bates put the Bobcats back up by 13 (48-35) with 14:59 to go.

After a Chance Dixon (Sr.-Lake Worth, Fla.) three-pointer sliced the USM deficit to single-digits at 57-48 (9:16), Bates proceeded to put the Huskies out of sight as a trey from Peter Psyhogeos provided the Bobcats a game-high lead of 23 (73-50) at the 5:58 mark.

USM would go on to outscore its host, 18-5, the rest of the way, but it would essentially be too little, too late for the visitors.

Four Bobcats reached double-digits in the scoring column, led by Elliott Cravitz who knocked down a season-high 17 points (including five three-pointers) over 29 minutes. Psyhogeos followed up Saturday's 21-point showing vs. SUNY Corland with 15 points and eight rebounds in Tuesday's win.

Simon McCormick posted a well-balanced line as the senior scored 14 points, complemented by seven assists, four boards, and a trio of steals in 37 total minutes. Stephen Ward fell one board short of a double-double, finishing with 11 points and nine rebounds.

The aforementioned Whelan paced the Huskies with his 21 points, including a stellar 9-for-10 from the charity stripe. The sophomore also grabbed eight boards, dished four helpers, and pocketed a pair of steals. Hawes finished with 18 points, five assists, and five rebounds of his own in 35 total minutes. 

Brady Saunders (Fy.-Brewer, Maine) collected three three-pointers and shot 60% from the floor (6-for-10) in a 16-point performance for USM.

Bates remains home for its next action as the Bobcats welcome Babson College to Alumni Gym this Sunday at 1:00 p.m.