LEWISTON – Jimmy O’Keefe led the Bobcats with 16 points and seven rebounds, and Bates went on a 21-4 run midway through the second half to overcome a four-point deficit, to defeat NESCAC rival Tufts University 77-65 in the regular-season finale for both teams on Saturday.

The Jumbos (9-15) led 53-49 with 14:10 left in the game, before Bates took an all important timeout. Upon return to play, John Squires tipped in a missed three by Marshall Hatch to start the 21-4 run.

Nick Schmiemann contributed 11 points, while the Bobcats (13-11) received a boost from freshman tandem Kyle Philbrook with seven assists and Squires with four points, seven rebounds and three assists.

Tufts led for most of the first half, taking over the lead with a 15-0 run midway through the period. Dave Beyel capped the stanza with a deep three for a 39-36 score at intermission.

Beyel scored a game-high 20 points for the Jumbos, while Jon Pierce added 12 points, 10 rebounds and five assist.

UMaine-Farmington 65, Green Mountain 57

FARMINGTON – Eric Taylor and Ted Neil notched double-doubles with 18 points apiece and 11 and 10 rebounds, respectively, to lead the University of Maine at Farmington to a 65-57 victory over Green Mountain College in NAC men’s basketball action Saturday.

The Beavers (11-10) fourced 15 turnovers in the opening frame to take a 36-27 advantage into the break. Andrew Dean and D.. Gerrish helped lead the defense with three steals apiece.

The Beavers outscored Green Mountain 14-6 out of the break. Neil scored seven of the points to push Farmington’s advantage to 50-33 with 14:11 remaining.

Over the next seven minutes, the Eagles (13-10) followed with a 15-2 stretch to cut the lead to 52-48. But, as time wound down, the Beavers were able to hold off the Eagles at the foul line for the victory.

Women’s basketball

Tufts 62, Bates 51

MEDFORD, Mass. – Sophomore guard Colleen Hart scored a team-high 17 points to lead Tufts University to a 62-51 triumph over Bates College in NESCAC women’s basketball action Saturday.

Offense was hard to come by in the early going for both teams until Jumbos (19-3) guard Tiffany Kornegay buried a jumper at the 14:38 mark.

Senior forward Val Beckwith posted a game-high 18 points for the Bobcats (16-8) and recorded a double-double with 11 boards. Junior forward Lauren Yanofsky finished with 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field.

Beckwith’s 18 points pushed her past Oliver Zurek ’05 and into second place on Bates’ all-time scoring list. Beckwith now has 1,453 points, and trails only Emily King ’00, who has 1,478 points.

UMaine-Farmington 58, Green Mountain 54

FARMINGTON – The University of Maine at Farmington used a late flurry to shoot past Green Mountain College 58-54 in NAC women’s basketball action Saturday.

Erin Porter led all scorers with 20 points for the Beavers (12-10). Ashley Busque provided 17 points, while Caitlyn Laflin recorded a double-double with 15 points and 11 boards.

The Eagles (10-12) fought back from a 10-point deficit in the second half to take a 47-45 lead with 3:29 to play. But, the Beavers regained a 50-49 edge and Busque collected a 3-point play and buried a jumper on the following possession to put Farmington up 55-49 with 1:16 left.