LEWISTON, Maine – Bates men's basketball stayed perfect on the young season Tuesday night, grinding out an 80–72 win over the University of Southern Maine at Alumni Gym. The Bobcats are now 5–0, their best start since the 2014–15 campaign opened 7–0.

Bates got double figures from four different players and a double-double from junior forward Babacar Pouye, overcoming a hot-shooting first half from the Huskies and a second-half deficit to protect home court.

The Bobcats came out flying and built an early cushion. Elliott Cravitz knocked down a three on the Bobcats' first possession, and a series of threes and transition finishes from Sean O'Leary, Brady Coyne, and Pouye helped Bates race out to an 18–5 lead with 15:18 left in the first half, the Bobcats' largest margin of the night.

Southern Maine (2-4) answered with long-range shooting of its own. Thomas Whelan poured in 15 first-half points with three triples, while Carter Galley went a perfect 5-for-5 from the field, including two threes, as the Huskies clawed back. USM eventually erased the 13-point deficit, tying the game at 40–40 on a Galley jumper with 2:05 remaining before intermission.

Bates and USM traded buckets down the stretch, with Whelan giving the Huskies a brief 42–40 edge in the final minute. The Bobcats responded by getting to the line; junior Ben Leach knocked down two free throws with one second left to send Bates into the locker room up 46–44.

The second half featured more back-and-forth play. Bates nudged the lead out to multiple possessions, but USM kept coming, led by Whelan, Galley, and Evans Sterling creating off the dribble. 

Midway through the half, the visitors grabbed control. A pair of baskets from Cohen Galley made it 59–55 Southern Maine with 11:54 to go, giving the Huskies their largest lead of the game at four points.

From there, Bates closed with a decisive run.

Coyne and Cravitz delivered from deep, and the Bobcats' defense tightened. Coyne buried a three to swing the lead back to Bates at 60–59 with 10:55 remaining. After USM edged back in front at the line, the Bobcats responded once more, eventually pushing ahead for good and outscoring the Huskies 25–13 over the final 12 minutes to put the game away.

Down the stretch, Bates got key plays from multiple spots: Coyne hit another big three, Pouye scored in traffic in the lane, and Keenan Sparks and O'Leary converted late free throws to keep USM at arm's length.

Bates finished with a 41–30 advantage on the glass and turned 18 offensive rebounds into 19 second-chance points. The Bobcats also knocked down 12 threes on the night and went 10-for-13 at the free throw line. 

Bates was led by Cravitz, who scored a season-high 16 points with four three-pointers and seven rebounds. Pouye delivered a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double, his second-straight and third on the year. O'Leary finished a perfect 5-for-5 from the field for 12 points and handed out career-best six assists to go with four boards. Coyne contributed 11 points, six rebounds, and two steals, and Sparks added seven points, going 5-for-6 at the line while dishing out three helpers.

Southern Maine was led by Whelan's 20 points, followed by Galley's 18 off the Huskies' bench.

The Bobcats now turn their attention to the University of Maine, Presque Isle as they prepare to host the Owls this Sunday at 1:00 p.m. in Alumni Gym.