THE BASICS:

Score: Wesleyan 93, Bowdoin 73
Records: Wesleyan (18-5, 5-4 NESCAC); Bowdoin (11-11, 2-7 NESCAC)
Location: Middletown, Conn.
Date: Friday, February 10
Time: 7 p.m.
The Lead: Joseph Kuo '17 posted a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds, and Harry Rafferty '17 recorded game-highs of 19 points and seven assists as the Wesleyan University men's basketball team cruised to a commanding 93-72 win over Bowdoin College Friday night in a critical NESCAC matchup at Silloway Gymnasium.

FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS:

• Ahead 9-8 in the opening minutes, Wesleyan went on a 10-2 run capped off by a three-pointer by Rafferty at the 10:55 mark to go up by nine.
• After a lay-up by Blake Gordon cut the deficit to seven at the 8:09 mark, the Cardinals went on another run and scored 12 of the next 13 points as Nathan Krill '18 hit one from deep with 1:46 remaining in the half, giving Wesleyan a 36-18 lead.
• With :01 left on the clock, Rafferty was sent to the line and connected on both foul shots as the Cardinals claimed a decisive 41-22 halftime advantage.
• Wesleyan shot 46.2% (6-13) from behind-the-arc in the first 20 minutes of regulation.

SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS:

• Despite a run by the Polar Bears within the first 10 minutes of the second half that saw them cut the deficit to 10 with 10:57 to play, Bowdoin never got within single digits.
• After a Jack Bors' lay-up made it a 57-47 Wesleyan lead, the Cardinals scored seven straight to regain a 17-point advantage following a lay-up by JR Bascom '18, essentially putting the game out of reach with 8:53 remaining.
• Roughly two minutes later, a foul shot by Kevin O'Brien '19 gave Wesleyan its largest lead of the game, up 72-49 with 6:59 on the clock.
• The closest Bowdoin would get the rest of the way was 15 points, as the first half deficit proved to be too much.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Four of Wesleyan's five starters scored in double-figures. Joining Kuo and Rafferty were O'Brien and Jordan Bonner '19 with 12 and 11, respectively. O'Brien added seven rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block.
• The Polar Bears had four players in double-figures as well with Liam Farley leading the way. Farley scored 14 points coming off the bench, while Bors added 13, Richard McAllister scored 12 and Jack Simonds was held to 11 points. Simonds entered the game ranked second in the NESCAC in scoring, averaging 19.1 points per game.
• Wesleyan hit 10 three-pointers and shot 46.0% (29-63) from the floor, while controlling the paint. The Cardinals held a 46-33 rebounding edge and outscored the Polar Bears downlow, 36-18.

UP NEXT:

• Wesleyan wraps up the 2016-17 regular season schedule tomorrow at 3 p.m. as it hosts Colby College.
• Bowdoin remains on the road and will head to New London for a 3 p.m. tip-off tomorrow against Connecticut College.

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