LEWISTON – Brian Baskauskas scored 28 points and Amherst took advantage of 22 offensive rebounds to hold off Bates 71-66 in NESCAC men’s basketball action Friday evening.

The Lord Jeffs (17-4) outrebounded Bates 43-35, with over half of its rebounds coming off the offensive glass, leading to an 18-6 edge in second-chance points. Jeff Holmes grabbed a team-high nine boards, six of them offensive.

Amherst took a 40-34 lead into halftime, and extended it to 44-34 early in the second half. But Bates cut the margin to as low as one point on four different ocasions.

Chris Wilson, who led the Bobcats (11-10) with a career-high 24 points, nailed a pair of free throws to tie the game at 59-59 with 4:53 remaining in regulation.

After Wilson’s free throws tied the game at 59, Baskauskas scored back-to-back layups to spark an 8-0 run from which Bates could not recover.

Jimmy O’Keefe chipped in with 12 points, while Ben Thayer notched a team-high eight rebounds for Bates.

Women’s basketball

Amherst 63, Bates 46

AMHERST, Mass. – Jaclyn Daigneault presented 19 points, 12 rebounds and four steals as Amherst buzzed past Bates 63-46 in NESCAC women’s basketball action.

Senior Val Beckwith led the Bobcats (15-7) with 15 points, while Annie Burns added 10 points.

Sophomore Christine McCall grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.