LEWISTON, Maine -- Junior Babacar Pouye scored a career-high 28 points and the Bates men's basketball team used a big second half to defeat Bowdoin 88-76 Friday night in NESCAC action at Alumni Gym. 

The Bobcats (12-3, 1-2 NESCAC) put up an impressive 53 points in the second half while holding Bowdoin (10-6, 1-2 NESCAC) to 36 points on their way to victory. 

With the score 46-41 in favor of the Polar Bears, sophomore Sean O'Leary (Franklin, Mass.) drove to the hoop and delivered a no-look, behind-the-back pass to Pouye (Carpinteria, Calif.), who converted the bucket with a lay-up high off the window, drawing a foul in the process. He hit the free throw and just like that the Bobcats were within two with 16:07 left in regulation.

Then with the score tied at 55, first-year Jamari Robinson (Holbrook, Mass.) converted an old-fashioned three-point play of his own, putting the Bobcats ahead for good with 10:48 remaining.

Bates continued to add to the lead down the stretch, shooting 53.3 percent from the field in the second half. 

Five Bobcats finished in double figures scoring, led by Pouye who shot 10-18 from the floor and grabbed seven rebounds. O'Leary added 13 points on 5-10 shooting to go along with five rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Senior Peter Psyhogeos (Yarmouth, Maine) was outstanding off the bench, tallying 11 points on 5-7 shooting and four rebounds. Sophomore Keenan Sparks (York, Maine) iced the game at the free throw line, making 8-11 at the stripe on his way to 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds. First-year Chris Bianco (East Greenwich, R.I. ) took advantage of a season-high 14 minutes played, tallying a career-best 10 points on 3-4 shooting. He also dished out two assists and recorded a pair of steals.

Bates got off to a fast start, going up 19-7 on a Pouye three-pointer with 13:41 left in the first half. The Bobcats led 24-14 when junior Cole Decker (Pound Ridge, N.Y.) hit a three-pointer with 9:53 remaining until halftime. But then the Polar Bears went on a 7-0 run to cut the lead to three with 8:07 left. Bates still held a three-point lead at 27-24 with 6:09 remaining. Then a dunk by Mason Dawkins and an Alex Halpern three-pointer gave Bowdoin their first lead of the contest at 29-27 with 4:57 left until the intermission. The Polar Bears continued to build their advantage, taking their largest lead of the game at 40-32 on a pair of Ray Cuevas free throws. Pouye was able to answer at the line and the Bobcats trailed by five at halftime.

A Cuevas jumper with 16:55 left in the game put the Polar Bears up by seven at 46-39. Then Pouye made a pair of free throws, starting a 7-0 run that was highlighted by the momentum-swinging O'Leary to Pouye three-point play.

Cuevas paced the Polar Bears with 18 points on 8-18 shooting. Bates held him to 0-5 from long range. Ben Chilson added 16 points on 5-9 shooting and Dawkins finished with 13 points on 5-10 shooting. Kevin Reeves had a nice game off the bench for the visitors, scoring 13 points on 5-6 shooting. Benedek Maly caused problems for Bates on defense, grabbing eight rebounds and tallying four steals.

Bates made 24 free throws in 32 attempts at the line, their most made free throws in one game since they drained 26 against Husson in 2017.

The Bobcats are back in action on Sunday when they visit Colby for a 3 p.m. tip.