Hey fpBear,  missed you at Colby. 

Mules jumped out to 13.6 lead with Choice very hot.  Then a couple 3s by O'Connell set the Bear on the path to win.  There was no looking back from mid 1st half. The Bowdoin bench really broke it open. Hanley and Sellew were big but Reid-Sturgis threw off Choice the rest of the game. 

The last two games in Waterville, Bowdoin went into the half with a lead as well then Colby had big 2nd half runs.   But not tonight, the lead only got stretched.

I agree with the previous posts that the 3 way Maine rivalry is amazing.   On those cold snowy nights seeing billowing steam clouds as you enter the Bates gym, you know you are in for a battle.

I have been lucky (or crazy) enough to attend every Bowdoin game this season.  THey have definately been building to the post season.
* Strong against Midd
* Beating Williams on their Sr Day
* Taking care of business with Conn & Wes at home.

The team is in good physical shape, foul shooting is in the up swing, and the freshmen are kicking in.  {Will Hanley has a real shot at ROY}

The Bigs are playing well

Bowdoin by 3

Hey PolarBear - its video time!!!   Wish I had your email.

As discussed Friday, the Maine trips can be a grind.  This certainly includes trips FROM MAINE to the distant lands of Midd and Williamstown.  That makes this weekend play by Bowdoin even more impressive.

The Bears played a very good and physical game Friday night against the best team in the NESCAC.  The zebras were too much of a factor – giving the bears a 21 to 11 foul differential.  It was 9 to 2 at one point.  Where were the "panther friendly" refs back in my day?  The 44 – 34 rebounding advantage kept Bowdoin in the game until late.  Rudin was the ultimate difference either drive & dishing or taking to the hole.  He is impressive.

Yesterday the Polar Bears were out to make a statement.  Having beaten Williams 2 of  the last 3 times coming into the game, Bowdoin was ready.  The game was back and forth until Kyle Jackson heated up from 3 point land.  He was joined by Paul Sellew and freshman Ryan O'Connell raining three pointers.   In total, William had more threes but that could not overcome the Bears inside advantage.

Mark Phillips was dominant inside, going 7 for 7.  The only thing slowing him down were the 4 fouls limiting him to only 20 min.  The battle of the boards was clearly Black and White with Bowdoin holding a 34-25 edge.

The ultimate difference maker was from the line, where the Bears have been steadily improving all year.  Shooting 88% and perfect in the 2H, Bowdoin rolled.  While Schultz missed both free throws (flagrant foul) what would have taken the lead at the end, the Bear's Tim Lane drained a 1 & 1 to stretch the lead with less than a minute.  Then on the next trip Lane was put back on the line and completed another 1 & 1 to ice the game.

Bowdoin is definitely building momentum and will be a force to contend with.  If Williams and Bowdoin both play next weekend like they did yesterday, the Bears may be playing the first round in Brunswick.

CC -

Glad to see that hope springs eternal down in New London.  Seems like Conn will suffer from the same experience loss that much of NESCAC is struggling with.

I was pleased to see that Stone was playing pro ball in Denmark.   www.nescac.com/sports/mbkb/2008-09/news/CONN_Stone_092408

He always seemed to be a guy with a lot of integrity.   Hope he does well.

Strong performance by Bowdoin yesterday (who schedules games for 4PM on a Friday!).  Although Western New England was not particularly strong, the Bears really got things going in the 2nd half (64% shooting). 

Career game for Tim Lane (23 pt / 11-12) in the 4 as well as another strong performance by Mark Phillips in the middle.   Colby had no answer for Phillips last week and it will be interesting to match him against the other NESCAC bigs.

Tonight should be a good test playing a strong Salem State team.  The Phillips/Holmes matchup in the middle will be bruising.


FormerPolarBear - good to see you at the game.  Attending tonight?

I also like the idea of Smith on 2nd  but cant see 2 from Midd.  As for COY I would throw my vote behind Gilbride at BC.  They have gone a lot further than many would have expected.   Brilliant game plan against a much deeper / bigger Amherst.

Polar Bear Nation rejoice!!!   

Although I did not give a spread - I will claim credit for the pick.  What an exciting game - too bad folks were having problem with the web cast.  Hope you finally got sound as it was rocking as Amherst came clawing back and went ahead.  The Bears hung in and pulled out a 1 pt win.

As predicted the Bear handled the size difference very well.  They actually out rebounded the Jeffs 32 - 22!  At the end of the first half Bowdoin's Kyle Jackson (6'3") fed a "Spaulding burger" to Kevin Hopkins (6'10")!  It was like that all night for the P Bear "Bigs".  Soph Mark Phillips had a huge game with 14 pts and 5 board - 4 for 4 from the line!

Probably the biggest issue was the shooting %.  Unlike the first time they met - tonite the Bears were on the right end of a 57% to 43% shooting.

I am certainly not impartial.... but the zebras seemed to call more ticky tacky fouls on the Bears although not  many more fouls (14 vs 10 for the Jeffs).

GO U BEARS

Eclinchy

The Bowdoin article was very well put together and adds nice depth to the NESCAC rivalry.  It will be an exciting (long) day out at Amherst.  Strange that both the Men & Women for Amherst/Bowdoin are playing.

Having played at Midd back in the day (we were always middle of the pack) and now being a Polar Bear fan - it is an exciting weekend to see both teams doing so well this year.  I would agree with Former P Bear that I would prefer not to have to play Midd again.  Panthers can be very scary when their inside/outside combos are clicking.

I think Bowdoin has a very real chance to knock off Amherst if they can repeat a game like last week.  I don't think I have ever seen a D3 player shoot like Hipp did last saturday.  As soon as the ball was in his hand coming off the curl it was away.  It must have seemed like the hoop was four feet wide.  Amazing sight to see.

Last night I rewatched the 2/2/08 Bowdoin/Amherst game.  Although Amherst only won by 5 they did control the whole game.  That side they shot a crazy 61% for the game vs their average 53%.  The Bears on the other hand shot they season average 51%.  They are the 1 and 2 teams for best %.

With all the talk about the Jeff's bigs - Fliegel really had his way the first game. Pretty much scoring at will in the paint even with the height difference.

All told - today will be Bowdoin's day.    GO U BEARS

IL4T - Love the pun

"Bowdoin has a decent shot if they get through their maine rival"

I do think there is truth in that (maine rival).  Bates gets into Bowdoin's head.  The teams know each other and 30 min down Rt 196 is not very far away.  Much more of a rivalry than even Colby in the the CBB.

Last saturday at half time when the teams had already gone to the locker rooms the coaches had a few more "questions" for the refs.  Next thing you know they were "discussing" the finer points of coaching between themselves... and their teams were no where around.   

This will be the highest energy game of the weekend.  Further the Bates/Bowdoin women will be banging it out just before the men tomorrow.

Heart breaker for the P Bears yesterday.  How do you call a travel on the inbounds pass when the player is tackled with 16 sec and 1 pt difference.

It did set up an interesting situation of Bowdoin hosting both Bates teams next Saturday (Women at 2 and Men at 4).   Morrell will be packed for sure.

Hey FormerPolarBear - we better see you there next week.

Hey Waltzy -

are you re-setting the spread for today?

From Brunswick

Bowdoin.  71
Tufts.    66

Go U Bears

Although Bowdoin was exhausted last night - I expect they will play very well against Amherst.   

Well bowdoin rolled over trinity by 5 in the 2nd OT.   Seesaw at the end.   Mike howser sink a 3 to drive it to 2 points.   Then lots of hammering in side.  Martin fouled out at the end of regulation.  Very stong game by all the polar bear starters.