MIDDLETOWN, Conn. -- Top-seed Wesleyan used a decisive second-half surge to pull away from No. 5 seed Bates, handing the Bobcats a 66–49 loss Saturday afternoon in the NESCAC Championship Tournament semifinals at Silloway Gymnasium.

With the win, the Cardinals (21-5) advance to Sunday's NESCAC championship game, where they will face No. 3 seed Trinity after the Bantams defeated No. 2 Tufts, 80–70, in the other semifinal.

Bates (18-8) trailed by just one at halftime, 24–23, after a tightly contested opening 20 minutes that featured multiple lead changes and strong defensive stretches from both sides. The Bobcats opened the game with a 7–0 run and remained within striking distance throughout the first half, taking their final lead on a Brady Coyne jumper with 5:34 remaining before the break.

Wesleyan turned the game in its favor coming out of the break, opening the second frame on an 8–0 run to build separation. The Cardinals shot 55.6 percent from the field in the second half and connected on six three-pointers after intermission, gradually extending the margin into double figures.

Elliott Cravitz led Bates with 12 points, knocking down a pair of three-pointers, while Coyne added 10 points. Babacar Pouye contributed eight points and a team-high seven rebounds and three rejections. Peter Psyhogeos chipped in seven points and five boards.

Three Cardinals eclipsed double-digits in the scoring column with Zach Wolinski pacing the victors with his game-best 17 points. Ben Lyttle contributed a double-double performance consisting of 11 points and 15 rebounds. Sam Pohlman fell just short of his own double-double, finishing the afternoon with 10 points and nine assists. 

Bates' postseason fate now shifts to the national stage, as the Bobcats await word on a potential at-large berth to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. The NCAA selection show for the 64-team field will air Monday at 1:00 p.m. on NCAA.com.