Box Score GORHAM, Maine – Junior Graham Safford (Hampden, Maine/Hampden Academy) scored 18 points and dished out four assists to lead five players in double-figures as the Bates College Bobcats defeated the University of Southern Maine Huskies 79-68 in a non-conference men's basketball game Tuesday night at Hill Gymnasium.
With the win, the Bobcats extend their winning streak to three games and improve to 5-1 overall. Southern Maine has its three-game winning streak snapped and dips to 3-2.
Safford was 7-for-15 from the field as the Bobcats shot a white-hot 50.8 percent from the field (30-for-59). Sophomore Mike Boornazian (Portland, Conn./Xavier/Wibraham & Monson) added 17 points and four assists on 6-for-12 shooting from the field, including a 3-for-6 effort from three point range. Junior Billy Selmon (Atlanta, Ga./Pace Academy) added 12 points, while senior Sean Cunningham (Amherst, Mass./Amherst Regional) and junior Adam Philpott (Gloucester, Mass.) each added 11 points.
Senior Conor Sullivan (Scarborough, Maine) led four Huskies in double figures notching his third double-double of the season with 16 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Sullivan was 7-for-12 from the field has the Huskies shot 50.0 percent (28-for-56) from the field for the game. Sophomore Cole Libby (Buxton, Maine/Bonny Eagle) and senior James Odneal (Pontiac, Mich) each scored 13 points. Libby had six assists and eight rebounds. Senior Tyler Penney (Barnstead, N.H./Bishop Brady) added 12 points.
After a nip-and-tuck opening six minutes, both teams were tied at nine. The Bobcats, however, were able to create some separation with an overwhelming 25-8 surge over the next 10 minutes to grab a 34-17 lead with 4:31 left in the half. Six different players scored the Bobcats in the pivotal run led by seven points from Selmon and six points from Safford.
The Huskies, who were plagued by seven of their 18 turnovers during the Bobcats' run, countered with an 8-0 spurt to trail by nine, 34-25 with 3:10 to play, but Bates outpaced the Huskies 7-4 in the final minutes for a 41-29 lead at the break.
In the second half, the Huskies could not get any closer than 10 points the rest of the way as the Bobcats offense stayed hot. After a Libby jumper pulled USM to within 10, 48-38, with 15:01 to play, Bates ran off eight unanswered points to lead 56-38 with 13:32 to play. Boornazian sank two three-pointers in the mini-run closing the door on the Huskies.
Southern Maine travels to St. Joseph's College (Maine) on Sunday (7:30 p.m.). Bates travels to Colby College next Thursday (7:30 p.m.).
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