BOSTON, Mass. (January 3, 2026) – Bowdoin College shot 53.2-percent from the floor and picked up its fourth-straight win with a 63-60 decision over Emerson College in a non-conference men's basketball matchup on Alumni Day on Hank Smith Court at Bobbi Brown and Steven Plofker Gymnasium this afternoon.

Sophomore Ray Cuevas and first-year Mason Dawkins combined for 37 points to lead Bowdoin which shot 56-percent from the floor in the second half as part of 53.2% shooting overall as the Polar Bears connected on 7-of-14 (50%) three-pointers for the afternoon. Cuevas made 7-of-11 shots, including 2-for-3 from three-point range, while converting 4-of-6 free-throws for a game-high 20 points, with five rebounds, four assists, a blocked shot and steal. Dawkins added 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting, six rebounds, two assists a block and steal for the Polar Bears. Junior Ben Chilson contributed eight points, four boards, two steals and a block.

Seniors Linus Helmhold and Jacob Armant combined for 36 points to lead Emerson. Helmhold totaled 19 points, aided by 11-of-14 shooting at the free-throw line, five rebounds and a blocked shot, while Armant scored 11 of his 17 points in the first half, connecting on 4-of-7 three-pointers, with two rebounds, two assists and two steals. Junior Guillermo Gasset Ruiz added seven points, three boards and two steals, while postgrad Asher Gardiner pulled down a team-high six boards.

Bowdoin wrapped a 15-2 run around halftime, led by nine points from Cuevas, that turned a three-point deficit after an Emerson three-pointer from junior Shay Roban with 4:17 to play in the first half into a ten point advantage (37-27) less than two minutes into the second following back-to-back three-pointers from Chilson and Cuevas. The Polar Bears stretched their lead to a game-high 11 points (42-31) after a layup from senior Nolan Bessire four minutes into the frame.

Emerson responded with ten-straight points, including six from sophomore Giulio Volonte , to draw back within a point (42-41) with 12 minutes to play. The Lions reclaimed the lead with a three-point play from Gasset Ruiz with nine minutes remaining and neither team would lead by more than a possession until Bowdoin took a four point advantage (57-53) with a three from senior Alex Halpern with 7:22 to go.

Emerson pulled level on a Helmhold bucket inside with four minutes to play, but Bowdoin restored its four-point cushion (61-57) after a layup from freshman Benedek Maly with 2:26 to go. The Polar Bears stretched the lead to five (63-58) on a Dawkins jumper with 1:46 remaining. The Lions held Bowdoin scoreless the rest of the way and drew back within a possession (63-60) after two free-throws from Helmhold but could get no closer.

Noteworthy

• Emerson held a pair of seven point leads in the opening 12 minutes of the game, the first (13-6) after an Armant three-pointer six minutes into the contest and then following a jumper from sophomore Hank Gramlich with 8:32 to play in the first half.
• The Lions shot 50-percent (10-for-20) in the second half to finish at 39.6% overall, hitting just one of their six three-pointers in the closing 20 minutes.
• Emerson outscored Bowdoin 20-9 in points off turnovers.
• Armant scored in double figures for the eighth game this season (38^th career), while Helmhold reached double digits for the seventh time (25^th career).
• Gardner led Emerson is rebounding for the second game this season (15^th career).

Up Next
Emerson (6-5, 2-0 NEWMAC) is right back in action on Boylston Street on Wednesday when it returns to NEWMAC play by hosting Salve Regina University on Hank Smith Court at 7 p.m. Bowdoin (9-4, 0-0 NESCAC) opens conference play by hosting nationally-ranked Tufts University on Friday, January 9, at 7 p.m.

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