AMHERST, Mass.  -- Amherst College pulled away with a dominant second half to defeat Bates College 71–50 Friday night at LeFrak Gymnasium in the NESCAC opener for both teams.

Bates (11-2, 0-1 NESCAC) led for a majority of the opening half and carried a 35–32 advantage into the locker room, but Amherst (11-3, 1-0 NESCAC) used a 39–15 second-half surge to turn the game decisively in its favor.

The Bobcats opened the night with baskets from Sean O'Leary and Brady Coyne as the visitors built an early 11–4 lead 3:35 into the contest. Jamari Robinson added five quick points off the bench, including a three-pointer, as Bates pushed its lead to 21–16 with 12:10 to go in the first.

After Amherst briefly tied the game at 29-all (6:11), Bates closed the half on a 6–3 run, highlighted by free throws from Pouye and a late basket (1:50) from Peter Psyhogeos, to take a three-point cushion into the break.

Amherst came out firing in the second half, tying the game immediately with a K.J. Neville three-pointer 20 seconds in before ripping off a 18–3 run to take a 53–38 lead with 10:42 left. The Mammoths never looked back, extending the margin to as many as 23 points on two occasions in the final minutes.

Pouye ( eight rebounds) and Coyne led Bates with 10 points apiece, while O'Leary added nine on the night. Robinson chipped in seven points and six rebounds off the bench for the garnet and white. Neville paced the victors with 18 points as three Mammoths record double-digit efforts.

Bates stays on the road with its next action coming Sunday at 1:00 p.m. vs. Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y.