The Emory University men's basketball team won its third straight game Saturday evening, defeating Bates College in the UAA/NESCAC Challenge 86-52 in Waterville, Maine on the campus of Colby College. 

A huge second half proved to be the difference on Saturday as the Eagles outscored the Bobcats 41-13 over the final 20 minutes to run their record to 5-1 overall. With the defeat, Bates falls to 3-4. The UAA went 2-2 in the opening day of the challenge between the two conferences with Rochester adding the other win over Bowdoin.

Sophomore Cale Martens powered the Eagles to the win as he led both teams with 17 points in 20 minutes of action. Four others joined Martens in double figures with senior Mason Johnson contributing 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds and sophomore Albert Fallas notching 11 thanks to 3-for-3 shooting behind the arc. Sophomore Logan Shanahan had 10 points off the bench while freshman Benjamin Pearce stuffed the stats sheet with six points, seven assists and six rebounds.

The Eagles came out of the gates strong, leading 18-5 through the first six minutes - a lead that would grow to as many as 17 at 28-11 before Bates began to make a run. The Bobcats ended the half with a 28-17 run to head into the locker room trailing the Eagles by six at 45-39.

After the break it was all Emory as the Eagles scored nine of the first 10 points to grow their lead back to 54-40 and led by as many as 36 en route to the 34-point final margin.

Emory continues the UAA/NESCAC Challenge on Sunday afternoon as they take on host Colby College at 12:00 PM.