BABSON PARK, Mass. – The Babson College men's basketball team erased a 10-point deficit in the last five minutes of regulation to force overtime, but the Beavers eventually fell to visiting Bowdoin College, 68-66, in non-conference action at Staake Gymnasium on Tuesday.

After Bowdoin (10-6) built a 26-12 lead with 5:33 to go in the first half, Babson (10-9) came storming back to trail by only four, 29-25, at the break. The Polar Bears then re-extended the lead to double figures six different times in the second stanza, including a 57-47 cushion with five minutes left in regulation, before a 12-0 run gave the Beavers their first advantage of the period, 59-57, with 49 seconds on the clock. Bowdoin tied the game on a jumper by first-year Lucas Hausman (Westport, Conn.) with 25 seconds left, and Babson freshman Travis Sheldon's (Woodstock, N.Y.) jumper from the right corner at the buzzer proved too long as the two teams went into overtime.

The Polar Bears scored the first four points of the extra session, and a conventional three-point play by junior Andrew Madlinger (Basking Ridge, N.J.) made it a five-point game, 66-61, with 1:26 to go. The Beavers answered with a baseline jumper by junior Kenny Ross(Furlong, Pa.) and a free throw by sophomore John Wickey (Manchester, N.H.) to get to within two with 37.9 remaining, but sophomore Bryan Hurley (Watertown, Mass.) hit back-to-back free throws to once again make it a two-possession contest, 68-64, with 30.4 on the clock.

Ross hit a driving lay-up to trim the deficit back to two, and a missed free throw at the other end gave the Beavers a chance to tie with 17 seconds left. However, senior Russell Braithwaite's (Brooklyn, N.Y.) contested shot from the right side of the lane went off the backboard and into the arms of Madlinger as the buzzer sounded, giving the Polar Bears the 68-66 win.

Junior Matt Palazini (Franklin, Mass.) hit five three-pointers on his way to a game-high 25 points for Babson, and Ross finished with 12 points, four assists, and three steals while playing all 45 minutes. Braithwaite and Wickey each added 10 points while combining for 17 rebounds in defeat.

Bowdoin was led by Hurley, who hit four trifectas for 20 points while also adding eight rebounds, seven assists, and four steals. Madlinger chipped in 12 points and sophomore Keegan Pieri (Camden, Maine) finished with eight points and eight boards.

GAME NOTES: Bowdoin now holds an 18-15 edge over Babson in the all-time series that dates back to 1974... In his two career games against the Polar Bears, Palazini now has 13 three-pointers and 59 points. He tied a school record with eight trifectas as part of a 34-point effort in last year's meeting between the two squads… Ross hit both of his foul shots to extend his consecutive made free throw streak to 29.