WATERVILLE, Maine -- Returning to action less than 24 hours after Friday's double overtime setback at Bowdoin, Bates College trekked to Colby College Saturday for yet another NESCAC men's basketball intrastate showdown.

The host-Mules defeated the Bobcats, 81-72, avenging their 99-92 overtime loss to the garnet and white back on Dec. 9 in Alumni Gym.

Bates came out of the gate red-hot on this day, pouncing for a quick 20-8 lead just 5:36 into the contest. Simon McCormick, who netted a career-high 34 points the night before vs. the Polar Bears, connected on four attempts from long range during the Bobcats' surge, accounting for 12 of Bates' first 20 points.

The 12-point Bobcat cushion would prove to be tearing at the seams as Colby kicked back with a 21- 8 run of its own to take its first lead of the afternoon (29-28) with 7:07 left in the opening half. The Mules (11-10, 3-5 NESCAC) continued to surge as a Max Poulton three-pointer at the 1:50 mark capped a subsequent 17-9 push to put Colby ahead by nine (46-37).

A pair of three-pointers from Brady Coyne over the final 1:19 of the first sliced the Bobcats' deficit to just three (46-43) heading into intermission. The Colby advantage dropped to one as Babacar Pouye's layup to open the second stanza (19:44) made the score 46-45 Mules.

Coyne popped another trey to have Bates within a basket (57-55) with 13:33 to go. Unfortunately, the 'Cats could not climb any closer the rest of the way. Colby responded by outscoring its guest 16-2 over the next 6:40 to take a healthy 73-57 lead with 6:53 left in regulation.

Bates would outpace the Mules, 15-8, over the remaining time, but the damage was already done.

Four players reached double-digits for the victors, including the aforementioned Poulton who carried the Mules with 24 points. 

McCormick followed Friday's career-best with another 26 points on the day for the Bobcats. Coyne matched his teammate with 26 points of his own, establishing a new personal-high for the sophomore.The Bates' duo combined for 14 three-pointers, eight for Coyne and six for McCormick.

Things certainly do not get easier for the Bobcats as they return home to host No. 5 Trinity (21-1, 7-1 NESCAC) this Friday at 7:00 p.m. in Alumni Gym.