Southern Maine 89, Bates 69
at Gorham, Maine

TALE OF TWO HALVES FOR BOBCATS IN 89-69 LOSS AT USM

GORHAM, Maine - The Bates College men's basketball team (8-6) shot 56 percent from the floor in the first half en route to a 42-37 lead, but could not maintain the pace, dropping an 89-69 decision to the University of Southern Maine (11-6).

The Bobcats were led by first-year guard Billy Hart (Haverhill, Mass.), who had 19 points and nine assists. Fifteen of Hart's points came in the first half, when he hit five of six from 3-point range as Bates hit 17 of 30 from the floor in the first half. Sophomore forward Rommel Padonou (Libreville, Gabon) recorded his eighth double-double of the season with 17 points and 12 rebounds.

After their hot first half, the Bobcats shot 29 percent from the floor in the second, hitting 10 of 35 and scoring 27 points, their lowest 20-minute output of the season. Bates was hurt at the foul line in the second as well, as USM took 14 more free throws in the second half, including a pair of technical fouls on coach Joe Reilly and Padonou. The Huskies were led by senior Mike Fennessey's 24 points.

USM 89, Bates 69

Bates (69) : Jason Patterson 0-0-0, Matt Moulis 0-0-0, Billy Hart 6-1-19,
Matt Carriker 1-0-2,  Alex Wilson 6-2-14, Garth Timoll 3-0-6, Rommel
Padonou 7-3-17, Ed Walker 4-2-11, TOTALS 27-8-69.

USM (89) : Jason Daly 3-1-8, Josh Mathieu 0-0-0, Mike Ellerbrook 0-0-0,
Wade Millet 4-2-14, Rodeny Broussard 4-0-8, Corey Zimmerman 3-8-14, Mike
Fennessey 9-4-24, Kris Brown 2-0-6, Ryan Denton 2-0-4, Andy McVane 1-3-5,
Bryan Hill 2-0-6, TOTALS 30-20-89.

Three-point field goals: Bates 7 (Hart 6, Walker); USM 9 (Millett 4,
Fennessey 2, Brown 2, Daly)

Halftime: Bates, 42-37.

Records: Bates, 8-6. USM 11-6.