Bates Continues Winning Streak Against Williams

Williams Sports Info - February 11, 2008

LEWISTON, Maine — It was an exercise in contrast Friday night as the Williams men's basketball team (15-6, 2-4) fell for the fourth straight game to host Bates (15-5, 4-2), who earned their seventh straight victory with the 78-71 win.

Bates extended their 28-27 halftime lead by shooting 58 percent from the field in the second half and making 16 of 18 from the free-throw line. The Ephs, on the other hand, continued to struggle offensively in being held to 37 percent shooting on the game.

Despite the lopsided numbers, the game featured six ties and six lead changes, and it wasn't until an 11-2 run midway through the second half that the Bobcats were able to create some separation at 56-45. Williams would whittle the lead down to five after that, but would draw no closer as Bates hit 12 of their last 14 free throws to ice the game.

Senior Bryan Wholey led the victorious Bobcats with 20 points, and freshman Brian Ellis added 17 for the Bobcats, who placed four players in double-figures. For the Ephs, sophomore Joe Geoghegan led in points and rebounds with 17 in both categories. The Ephs, for their part, put five players in double figures, but required too many shots to do so which ultimately proved to be the difference in the game.

Ephs coach Dave Paulsen was only briefly available for comment but stressed the Ephs inability to get stops in the second half while mentioning "a bunch of easy shots" missed in the first half.