By Sun Journal staff

BRUNSWICK – Bates College rushed out to a commanding lead in the first half, then held off a furious rally for a 57-54 triumph over Bowdoin in a NESCAC men’s basketball season opener.

Bryan Wholey, who scored 21 points, hit four 3-pointers in the first half to help the Bobcats (10-2) build a 31-16 advantage by halftime.

The lead grew to 18 points in the second half before the Polar Bears (8-5) fought back. Consecutive treys by Kevin Bradley and Jordan Fliegel cut the deficit to three with 27 seconds to play. Bates hit two late free throws to seal the game.

Tufts 78, Colby 57

WATERVILLE – Dan Martin scored 16 points and hauled down seven rebounds to lead Tufts University to a 78-57 win over Colby College in men’s basketball action Friday.

Martin was perfect from the field, notching all six field goals attempted. Jeremy Black added 11 points and Brian Kumf had 10 points for the Jumbos (10-2).

Women’s basketball

Tufts 61, Colby 41

MEDFORD, Mass. – Tufts used an 18-3 run in the first half and coasted to a 61-41 victory over Colby in women’s basketball Friday.

Leading 12-9 with 8:58 left in the first half, Tufts (7-5) scored 18 of the next 21 points during a span of 4:30 to open up a 30-12 cushion. The lead grew to 26 points in the second half.

Men’s hockey

BU 3, Maine 2

BOSTON – Kenny Roche’s second goal of the game with just 1:10 to play lifted Boston University to a 3-2 win over Maine on Friday night.

Maine (14-7-0, 7-5-0 Hockey East) led 2-1 after Greg Moore’s second goal of the game just 12 seconds into the third period. But the Terriers (9-8-2, 7-6-1) tied it at 4:44 on John Laliberte’s power-play goal.

Moore scored his first on a power play at 2:12 of the first period. Roche tied it at 18:44 of the first. Pete MacArthur and Brandon Yip each had two assists for the Terriers.

Middlebury 6, Colby 2

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Evgeny Saidachev notched a goal and an assist as part of a three-goal third period, and the Panthers earned a key 6-2 victory over second-ranked Colby in hockey action Friday.

Mickey Gilchrist got Middlebury on the board early with a backhander from the left-wing boards at 8:31 of the first frame, and added a third-period, power-play goal for the Panthers, while Jaime McKenna chipped in with a pair of assists.

Greg Osborne had a goal and an assist for the Mules, helping out on Joel Covelli’s tying goal in the first period and converting on a 5-on-3 power play opportunity to tie the game at 2-2 in the second.

USM 5, Hamilton 3

CLINTON, N.Y. – Freshman forwards Josh Giordani and Kyle Smith of Auburn each scored a pair of goals to lead the University of Southern Maine to a 5-3 victory over Hamilton College in ECAC men’s hockey action Friday.

Smith, who scored his first collegiate goal Tuesday night, put the Huskies (3-8-2) on top at 12:38 of the first period.

Following an equalizer by Hamilton’s freshman Jared Leslie, Giordani scored his first collegiate goal to give the Huskies a 2-1 lead.

Rookie Ben Loss made it 3-1 at 7:02 with his first career goal, assisted by Mike Stevens.

Bowdoin 5, Williams 2

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – Bowdoin netminder George Papachristopoulos stopped 44 shots to backstop the Polar Bears to a 5-2 victory over Williams in NESCAC hockey.

The win ends a two-game losing streak for the Polar Bears.

Bowdoin (10-3) jumped out to a 5-0 lead, including three first-period goals. James Gadon had a short-handed goal and an assisted, while Coling Hughes netted the game-winner, and Matt Smith dished out three assists.

Richard Leahy, Mike Westerman, and Bryan Ciborowski rounded out the scoring for the Polar Bears.

Kevin Colwell and Brandon Jackmuff each scored in the third period for Williams (5-5-2), which couldn’t solve Papachristopoulos despite getting 46 shots on goal.