MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – The Bates men's basketball team fought until the final buzzer but came up just short in a thrilling overtime battle against Middlebury, falling 92-84 on Saturday evening at Pepin Gymnasium.

The Bobcats (10-10, 1-5 NESCAC) displayed grit and resilience throughout the contest, trading blows with the Panthers (10-9, 2-4 NESCAC) in a game that featured 11 lead changes and nine ties. With both teams knotted at 72-72 at the end of regulation, Middlebury took control in the extra frame, outscoring Bates 20-12 to seal the win.

Bates came out aggressive, jumping to a 5-0 lead behind a pair of Elliott Cravitz free throws and a three-pointer from Babacar Pouye. Middlebury responded quickly, using a 9-0 run sparked by Tristan Joseph's perimeter shooting.

Midway through the half, Bates found their rhythm from beyond the arc. Brady Coyne knocked down back-to-back threes, followed by Sean O'Leary's long-range shot to put the Bobcats up 11-9. The teams continued to trade baskets, with Cole Decker providing a lift off the bench, scoring six first-half points.

As the first half wound down, Chiwer Mayen made his presence felt on both ends, blocking a shot and finishing a put-back dunk to tie the game at 30-30. After David Omasombo's clutch jumper with 1:19 left, Middlebury answered with a last-second layup from Joseph to send the teams into halftime tied 34-34.

The Bobcats opened the second half firing on all cylinders, with Cravitz drilling a three-pointer and Keenan Sparks following up with a contested jumper to put Bates up 39-36. Minutes later, Decker's three-pointer extended the lead to 45-38, marking Bates' largest advantage of the game.

Middlebury, however, refused to go away. The Panthers clawed back with an 8-0 run, fueled by second-chance points from David Brennan, who finished with nine points and 16 rebounds. A layup from Joseph gave Middlebury a 54-53 lead with 9:17 remaining, their first advantage since early in the half.

Coyne continued to deliver for Bates, sinking a deep three-pointer with under a minute left to tie the game at 70-70. After Middlebury took a 72-70 lead, Decker came through in the clutch, finishing a tough layup with 22 seconds remaining to once again bring the Bobcats level at 72-72. Bates had a chance to win in the final possession, but a contested three-pointer by Marc Begin II fell short, sending the game to overtime.

Bates struck first in the extra frame, as Decker hit a mid-range jumper to give the Bobcats a 74-72 lead. However, Middlebury quickly regained control behind a three-pointer from Edward Witherington, sparking an 8-0 run.

Coyne and Begin each hit three-pointers late in the period to keep Bates within striking distance at 87-83, but Middlebury iced the game at the free-throw line, converting 10-of-11 in overtime to secure the 92-84 victory.

Bates' bench outscored Middlebury's 57-18, showcasing the Bobcats' depth. Middlebury dominated the glass, outrebounding Bates 48-34, leading to 26 second-chance points.

Joseph was the difference-maker for the Panthers, exploding for 37 points on 13-of-26 shooting, including five three-pointers.

Coyne led Bates with 18 points, knocking down four three-pointers and adding two assists. Decker was a spark off the bench with 14 points, shooting 6-of-10 from the field. Begin and Grant Nadeau each added 10 points, with Begin hitting two key threes late in overtime. Mayen controlled the paint with eight rebounds and six blocks, altering multiple shots defensively.

The Bobcats will look to bounce back in their next NESCAC matchup on Friday when they host Trinity at 7:00 p.m. in Alumni Gym.