Nov 21, 2015
WATERVILLE, Maine -- Coming off a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA tournament, the Bates men's basketball team started the 2015-2016 campaign in style at the Charlie Ryan Classic with a 79-49 win over Norwich University Saturday night.
The Bobcats (1-0) started the game on an 18-4 run to quickly put the Cadets (1-2) in a big hole. Malcolm Delpeche (Wilmington, Del.) scored a game-high 20 points for Bates on 9-10 shooting. He added a game-high eight rebounds, a game-high five steals and a game-high four blocks in a dominating performance.
Delpeche '17 wasn't the only Bobcat flexing his muscles Saturday. His twin brother Marcus Delpeche (Wilmington, Del.) added 10 points of his own on 5-8 shooting. Sophomore guard Shawn Strickland (Middletown, Conn.) added 10 points, three rebounds and three assists.
Bates won this game on the glass, out-rebounding Norwich 50-27. Bates out-shot Norwich as well, finishing the game shooting nearly 50% while the Cadets managed only a 35% mark from the field.
Both teams played their entire active rosters in the easy win for Bates. Off the bench sophomore Justin Zukowski (Portland, Maine) scored seven points while grabbing four rebounds. Junior Quin Leary (Auburn, Maine) led all players with four assists.
The Bobcats led 36-19 at the half and never trailed in the opening night win.
Bates wraps up the Charlie Ryan Classic Sunday afternoon as they take on the University of Maine- Fort Kent at 2:00 in Waterville on the campus of Thomas College.