BABSON PARK, Mass. – Junior Gustave Koumare (Harlem, N.Y.) poured in 24 points in Nichols College's season-opening 81-78 loss to Bates in non-conference action Saturday night at the Babson Invitational at Staake Gymnasium.

Koumare also handed out five assists and notched two steals for the Bison (0-1). Junior Irving Eggleston (East Lyme, Conn.) chipped in with 12 points and two steals. Senior Matt Langadas (Sebago, Maine) and sophomore Taylor Sarette (Keene, N.H.) each netted 11.

Junior Mike Boornazian (Portland, Conn.) scored a game-high 25 points and senior Graham Safford (Hampden, Maine) contributed 22 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for the Bobcats. Boornazian went 10-of-15 from the floor to go along with seven boards and five assists. Safford was 6-of-11 from the floor and 10-of-13 at the free throw line on the night for the Bobcats. Sophomore Marcus Delpeche (Wilmington, Del.) added a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds in the win.

The Bison led 46-35 at the break behind 18 from Koumare and six from sophomore Jared Thompson (Scituate, R.I.). Their lead swelled to 14 early in the second half before a 25-9 run the Bobcats gave it a 62-60 with less than eight minutes left in the second half.

Langadas and Eggleston helped Nichols regain a seven-point lead before a triple from Koumare pushed it to seven (74-67) with 3:23 to go. Two free throws from Koumare with 2:34 on the clock made it 78-71 in favor of the Bison before Bates closed the game on a 10-0 run.

The Bobcats took the lead for good at 79-78 on a three from Billy Selmon with 27 seconds left. Langadas had a chance to tie or give Nichols the lead, but missed a pair of free throws with seven seconds to go.

The Bobcats outrebounded Nichols 46-28 and shot 50 percent from the field. Nichols turned 21 Bates turnovers into 20 points, but was outscored 40-28 in the paint.

Nichols plays Salve Regina in the consolation contest Saturday at 5 p.m. in Wellesley, Mass.