Box Score

(portions of the story courtesy Bates College)

LEWISTON, Maine -- The University of New England Nor'easters forced 20 Bates College second-half turnovers to rally from a seven-point halftime deficit and defeat the Bobcats, 81-77, in non-conference men's basketball action Tuesday evening at Alumni Gymnasium. 

The Nor'easters notched their eighth straight victory to raise their record to 9-3, while Bates' three-game win streak ended as the Bobcats fell to 6-5.

UNE turned a nine-point deficit early in the second half into a lead of as many as 16 points. The Bobcats clawed back to within two points with Chris Wilson's offensive rebound and three-pointer with three seconds remaining, but senior Johnnie Jefferson iced the win by hitting two free throws with two ticks left on the clock.

Jefferson led five Nor'easters in double digits with 18 points, including 13 in the second half, and also grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and made four steals. Senior Jaykyri Simpson added 14 points, including 12 in the second half, and also made four steals. First-year Quentin Thompson scored 13 points, senior Steve Belmonte had 11, and first-year Ryan Knotek played a strong game off the bench with 10 points.

Marshall Hatch led the Bobcats with 17 points, including two 3-pointers from well behind the arc in the final 4:15. Wilson scored 15 points to go with seven rebounds, six assists and three steals. Brian Ellis added 14 points and six rebounds, and Alex Gallant submitted 11 points with six rebounds. John Squires grabbed a game-high eight rebounds, helping Bates to a 42-33 advantage on the boards.

UNE's defensive pressure gave Bates some problems right from the start of the game, allowing the Nor'easters to go on top 9-2 early on. Bates regrouped to put together an 11-3 run for a 13-12 lead, with five points by Wilson and three-pointers by Scott Place and Hatch. Bates' intense defense led to 30 percent shooting for UNE in the period, and Bates built its lead as high 11 before entering intermission with a 37-30 advantage, led by Wilson's 10 points.

UNE began to turn the tables almost from the start of the second half, tying the game at 41 on a three by Belmonte and retaking the lead at 44-41 with a Jefferson three. With just under 13 minutes left in the game, in a span of 21 seconds, UNE converted two steals into off-balance three-pointers by Jefferson, suddenly giving the Nor'easters a nine-point lead.  Bates' difficulties with the UNE press continued, as the Bobcats turned it over on four straight possessions while UNE's lead grew to 15, at 65-50.

Bates began chipping away at UNE's lead in the final six minutes, getting as close as two (79-77) with three seconds left, leaving Jefferson to hit the clinching two free throws.

Bates will play host to Endicott College on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.  UNE opens its The Commonwealth Coast Conference schedule on Saturday when New England College comes to Biddeford for a 3:00 p.m. start.