LEWISTON, Maine — On a day dedicated to honoring the Bates faculty and staff, the men's basketball team gave the campus plenty to celebrate, rolling past Maine Maritime Academy, 107-59, to improve to 9-0 on the season.
The Bobcats' offensive outburst marked their highest point total since a 107-103 home win over the University of New England on Nov. 26, 2017. Bates also came within one three-pointer of its program record, connecting on 20 shots from beyond the arc — just one shy of the team-best 21 set against Maine Maritime on Jan. 23, 2024.
Bates seized control early, opening the game with a barrage from long range and racing to a 63-16 lead at halftime. The Bobcats shot 63.2 percent from the field in the opening half, including 13-of-21 from three-point range, while holding the Mariners to just 7-for-27 shooting overall before the break.
Junior
Cole Decker turned in a career performance off the bench, scoring a personal-best 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including 6-of-8 from beyond the arc. Decker was one of eight Bobcats to score at least seven points in a balanced offensive effort.
Senior
Brady Coyne led all scorers with 23 points in just 18 minutes of action, connecting on 7-of-9 attempts from three-point range and finishing 8-of-11 overall from the field. Sophomore
Aidan Lawlor added 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting, while senior
Chiwer Mayen chipped in nine points on a perfect 4-for-4 performance from the floor.
The Bobcats also forced 15 Maine Maritime turnovers and converted them into 23 points, building their lead to as many as 53 points in the second half. Defensively, Bates limited the Mariners (4-7) to 22.2 percent shooting from beyond the arc for the game.
With the win, Bates improved to 9-0 for the first time since opening the 2006-07 season with an 11-0 start. The Bobcats have now scored 100 or more points three times this season.
The garnet and white will now travel to Atlanta, Ga. to participate in the Emory University Holiday Classic. Bates will take on the No. 7 nationally-ranked Eagles on Monday, Dec. 29 (4 p.m.), followed by a showdown with No. 25 Maryville College on Dec. 30 at 2 p.m.
