ATLANTA, Ga. — Bates men's basketball saw its unbeaten start come to an end Monday, falling 104-66 to No. 7 Emory University at the Woodruff PE Center as part of the Emory Holiday Classic.

The Bobcats entered the contest at a perfect 9-0, but Emory controlled the game from the opening tip, racing out to a 59-28 halftime advantage. The Eagles shot nearly 69 percent from the floor in the opening half and connected on eight three-pointers to build a 31-point cushion at the break.

Bates continued to compete on the glass and in the paint, scoring 38 of its points inside and almost matching Emory on the glass with just a 44-42 rebound deficit. Junior Babacar Pouye led the Bobcats with nine points and seven rebounds in 19 minutes, while first-year Chris Bianco added nine points of his own in nine minutes off the bench. Junior Cole Decker chipped in seven points, six rebounds, and three assists in 21 minutes while senior Brady Coyne knocked down two three-pointers as part of his six-point effort.

Emory, with a seven-game winning streak, moves to 8-1 on the year with the triumph. The Eagles placed four players in double figures in the home win, led by senior Ben Pearce and his 18 points.

Bates (9-1) will look to respond quickly Tuesday (2 p.m.), closing out the Emory Holiday Classic against another ranked opponent in No. 25 Maryville College (Tennessee). The Scots (8-3) dropped a 63-55 decision to No. 16 Hampden-Sydney (Virginia) earlier Monday.