LEWISTON – When it’s Bates versus Bowdoin, nothing else matters. Not the weather and certainly not the score.

The Bobcats held a 21-8 lead after the first five minutes then never looked back as Bates (5-1) trounced Bowdoin (4-1), 87-56, in men’s college basketball action at Alumni Gym Saturday afternoon.

The win will not count in the NESCAC standings as only one meeting per year is allowed, but it will count towards the CBB Championship.

“We shot the lights out,” said former South Portland standout and Bates junior Jon Furbush. “Our defense was phenomenal.”

Bowdoin held one lead in the game and it was in the first 20 seconds. Mark Yakavonis dropped in a layup before the near capacity crowd had settled in their seats.

For the Polar Bears, it also turned into the high point of the game.

Bates’ Brian Gerrity answered with a three-pointer and followed with two more baskets giving the home team a 7-2 advantage.

“Lately we’ve been coming out flat the first couple of minutes,” said Furbush. “Gerrity came right off and got the first seven points and got us going.”

“Bowdoin came in undefeated,” said Bates coach Joe Reilly. “They are a very good team and they’re really well-coached, and we were expecting a game. Our shots dropped early and a lot of the game is mental and we had a lot of confidence.”

Midway through the first half, the Polar Bears cut the margin to eight at 24-16 when Jon Farmer and John Goodridge sandwiched three-pointers around a T. J. McLeod field goal.

A three-pointer and a layup by Ramon Garcia stopped the short-lived rally and the lead stayed in double-digits from that point on.

Bates led by 16 at the intermission, 45-29.

The Bobcats hit the floor running to open the second half as well. A 12-0 run in the opening minutes, powered by Rob Stockwell (4 points), Garcia (3), Furbush (3), and Gerrity (2).

“The balance really helps a lot,” said the Marancook graduate Gerrity. “We have three guys that can score no matter where they go. It’s great to have a balanced offense because they can’t key on one guy.”

Bate pushed the lead to over 30 with 13 minutes remaining on consecutive steals and layups by Zak Ray and Damon McGinn.

Even with the game out of reach, the usual passion between the two teams stayed high. A flagrant foul on Bates’ Rob Stockwell put Yakavonis on the floor and bodies flew on more than a couple occasions.

“This is such a bitter rivalry,” said Gerrity. “The guys really want to get after it. We didn’t feel too safe regardless of the score.”

Bates had three players in double figures. Garcia and Gerrity led all scorers with 22 points each. Furbush contributed 14.

Bowdoin was paced by McLeod with 16 and Kyle Petrie with 14.

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