Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The Bates College Bobcats used a 11-2 run over a 3:53 span midway through the second half to break open a close game on their way to a 73-60 non-conference men's basketball win over the University of New England Nor'easters Tuesday evening at the Campus Center.

With the score tied -- the 12th of the contest -- and just under 12 minutes remaining, Bates senior center Jimmy O'Keefe (Lexington, Mass.) converted back-to-back layups to give the Bobcats the lead for good. 

After a drive by UNE senior guard Marchale Robinson (Baton Rouge, La.) closed the Nor'easters' deficit to two (51-49), O'Keefe nailed a 15-footer, then senior guard Marshall Hatch (Chicago, Ill.) followed with a three-pointer. Bates junior forward Nick Schmiemann (Weymouth, Mass.) closed the run with a bucket down low to make the score 58-49 with 8:02 remaining.

Bates' lead would swell to as many as 16 in the closing stages, as the Bobcats shot 64.3 percent (18 of 28) after halftime.

Junior forward Brian Ellis (Braintree, Mass.) was 8-for-12 from the floor en route to a team-high 17 points for the visitors. O'Keefe recorded a double-double off the bench with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Schmiemann and senior center Sean Wirth (Barrington, R.I.) tossed in 10 points apiece. Sophomore point guard Kyle Philbrook played a strong floor game, finishing with six assists and four steals.

Sophomore guard Victor Oruonyehu (Austin, Texas) scored all 14 of his points in the second half to lead the way for the Nor'easters. Junior guard Kadare Brown (Baton Rouge, La.) and sophomore guard Anthony Johnson (Austin, Texas) each chipped in 10 points.

For the game, Bates shot 56.6 percent (30 of 53) on its field goal tries and held a 42-23 advantage on the backboards.

The first half saw six ties and seven lead changes before Bates outscored UNE 13-5 over the closing 8:09 of the frame to establish a 30-21 advantage. The Nor'easters were ice-cold from beyond the arc in the half, converting only one -- a 35-foot heave by Brown at the buzzer -- of 16 three-point attempts.

Bates (6-4) returns to action Saturday with a road game at in-state rival Colby College tipping off at 2 p.m.

The Nor'easters (3-7) open up The Commonwealth Coast Conference play that same afternoon when they travel to Henniker, N.H. to take on New England College (3 p.m.).