DARTMOUTH, Mass. -- Sophomore Marc Begin II hit a step-back three-pointer to force overtime and the Bates men's basketball team turned in a strong extra session to defeat UMass Dartmouth by a score of 68-62 Saturday afternoon.

With the Bobcats (9-8) trailing 57-54 after a pair of Camden DiChiara free throws, the reigning NESCAC Rookie of the Year took matters into his own hands. With nine on the shot clock and 11 on the game clock, Begin II (Carlsbad, Calif.) made an initial move toward the hoop, only to step back at the last moment and drill the game-tying three from just left of the top of the key. 

The Corsairs (5-12) attempted to answer on the other end but Josh Lopes missed a layup and a last second fade-away jumper from DiChiara was off as well, sending the game to overtime.

Bates and UMass Dartmouth traded buckets to start OT, and the Bobcats went ahead for good on a free throw from junior Peter Psyhogeos (Yarmouth, Maine) with 3:52 remaining. Then Begin II made his presence felt on defense, recording a key steal and a fast break layup with 1:59 left. Psyhogeos extended the lead to five with a layup before John Marcille drilled a three with 19 seconds left in OT to cut the Bates edge to two at 64-62. Begin II and junior captain Elliott Cravitz (Denver, Colo.) both sank a pair of free throws in the final seconds to secure the win for the Bobcats.

Four Bates players finished in double figures scoring, led by Cravitz who finished with 15 points on 4-13 shooting, hitting four threes on the day. He also grabbed five rebounds. Begin II notched 14 points, hitting his only three-point attempt when it mattered the most. Psyhogeos finished with 13 points, seven rebounds, and three steals while junior Brady Coyne (Falmouth, Maine) added 11 points. Junior Chiwer Mayen (Lewiston, Maine) chipped in four points and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.

The game featured six ties and 14 lead changes.

Bates led by as many as nine points in the first half, going up 14-5 on a Coyne layup with 13:54 remaining. But the Corsairs answered with an 11-0 run to go up by two with 7:39 left until halftime. The teams mostly traded buckets the rest of the way, with UMass Dartmouth taking a 27-25 lead over Bates into the intermission.

The Corsairs led by as many as five in the second half, going up 52-47 on a Marcille layup with 4:49 left in regulation. They maintained their small advantage and took a 55-51 lead with 1:23 to go on a Marcille free throw. But Cravitz drilled a three with 1:08 left and the Bobcats were able to force overtime thanks to Begin II's late heroics.

Ryan Flauto paced UMass Dartmouth with 16 points on 7-12 shooting and 10 rebounds. DiChiara finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds while Marcille added 11 points.

Bates is back in action this Tuesday at 7 p.m. when they visit Maine Maritime Academy.