NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Connecticut College men's basketball team dropped a NESCAC contest to Bates by a 99-67 score at the Charles B. Luce Field House on Friday evening.

Bates (11-9, NESCAC 3-4) came out firing and stormed out to a 10-0 lead in the opening 2:37 by shooting 4-of-5 from the floor, including a perfect 2-of-2 from long range, to force the hosts to burn a 30-second timeout. Jeff Spellman scored four points and set up Kody Greenhalgh for a trey to cap the early surge.

Junior Austin Nwafor (East Hartford, Conn.) threw down a dunk for the Camels' first field goal at 14:21 to make it 14-4, but the Bobcats responded with another 10 unanswered by continuing to convert from beyond the arc to balloon their advantage to 20 before the midway point of the half. The visitors extended their lead to as many as 24 in the frame and led by a 53-31 score at recess.

The Bobcats opened the scoring in the second half when Nick Gilpin drained a trifecta and continued to remain in control. The senior stretched the lead to 29 by finishing an old-fashioned 3-point play at the line to make it 67-38 with 16:56 still remaining, and the Camels would be unable to recover. The visitors maintained a double-digit advantage the rest of the way en route to coming away with the 32-point victory.

Bates was led by Spellman, who racked up 23 points by shooting a blistering 9-of-10 from the field, including 4-of-4 from long distance, and 1-of-1 at the line. Gilpin scored 11 points and dished out four assists, and Jacob Iwowo registered 11 points, five rebounds, and four helpers off the bench.

Junior Daniel Draffan (Hamden, Conn.) paced Connecticut College in the losing effort, scoring 21 points and grabbing three boards. Classmate Jeff Allen (Madison) pulled down six rebounds, while senior Bailey Whitman (North Wales, Pa.) contributed a career-high eight points and four rebounds in a reserve role.

Connecticut College (4-17, NESCAC 0-7) will next host No. 21 Tufts for its final home game of the regular season tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. The Camels will also recognize four seniors for their contributions to the program prior to the contest.