The Bowdoin College men's basketball team lost a close contest to Brandeis in their home opener at Morrell Gymnasium on Saturday evening. The Polar Bears led at halftime and built an early second-half advantage but couldn't hold off a late Brandeis rally. Bowdoin shot 40% from the field while holding Brandeis to 38%.
In a hard-fought battle, the Bowdoin Polar Bears carried a six-point lead into halftime, up 34-28, behind 43% field goal shooting and 11 first-half points from Ray Cuevas. A Jackson Bleecker three-pointer followed by four straight points from Cuevas extended the lead to double digits at 44-34 early in the second half.
Brandeis responded with a 10-0 run, tying the game on a three-pointer from Ryan Weiss with 14:30 remaining. The contest remained back-and-forth from that point, with neither team leading by more than four points thereafter. The score was tied at 63 with 3:30 left, but Brandeis pulled ahead with timely buckets down the stretch. Bowdoin missed their final three field goal attempts and committed two costly turnovers in the last 2:30.
Despite the shooting efficiencies—Bowdoin at 40% and Brandeis at 38%—the Judges capitalized on free throws, going 14-of-20, and scored 12 points off 12 Polar Bear turnovers.
Ray Cuevas led Bowdoin with a team-high 22 points. Alex Halpern added eight points, while Nolan Bessire grabbed a team-best eight rebounds and recorded five blocks. Mason Dawkins contributed seven points, four rebounds, and four steals.
For Brandeis, Elias Rodl paced the Judges with 25 points and 10 rebounds.
Bowdoin returns to action Wednesday night at Maine-Farmington at 7:00 p.m.