The third-seeded Middlebury men's basketball team (18-5) cruised past 11th-seeded Bowdoin 91-72 in NESCAC Quarterfinal action on Sunday in Pepin Gym. During the victory against the Polar Bears (13-13),
Alex Sobel recorded his 500th career rebound. The Panthers will make their 10th appearance in the NESCAC Semifinals when they take on fourth-seeded Williams on Saturday. Top-seeded and host Wesleyan will play seventh-seeded Trinity in the other semifinal contest, with game times to be determined.
Middlebury went on a 10-4 burst to open the game, capped on a dunk by
Alex Sobel with 4:58 expired. Bowdoin's Taiga Kagitomi cut the deficit to three (10-7) with a shot from beyond the arc at the 14:17 mark. The Panthers responded with a 12-3 run over the ensuing 3:38, extending their advantage to 22-10 at the midpoint of the half. Middlebury continued increasing its lead, using a 14-0 run to take a 42-22 lead with nine seconds left on the clock.
Nash Goldman and
Noah Osher tallied back-to-back three-pointers to close out the span, before a trey from Polar Bear Afamdi Achufusi made it 42-25 as the clock expired heading into the break.
Out of the intermission, the Panthers extended their advantage to as many as 20 points (57-37) with 12:38 showing on the clock. Bowdoin answered with back-to-back treys from Kagitomi and Cole Hanin to cut the deficit to 59-45. The Polar Bears wouldn't go away, getting within 11 points (79-68) with a pair of free throws from Manav Randhawa, but that was as close as they would get. Middlebury went nine-for-nine at the charity stripe, before
Dean Smith made it a 91-72 final with a three-pointer.
Osher led all players with 22 points. Sobel recorded his 18th double-double with 20 points and 14 rebounds, while blocking seven shots.
Jaden Bobbett (15 points) and
Sam Stevens (12 points) each chipped in with scoring.
David Brennan had an all-around game with eight points, nine boards, five assists and three steals.
Kagitomi paced Bowdoin with 14 points, while James McGowan and Achufusi each had 11. Michael Simmonds grabbed a game-high four steals.
