BRIDGEWATER, Va. --  All five starters for the Bridgewater College men's basketball team finished in double figures as the Eagles topped Catholic University of America, 80-75, in Nininger Hall on Saturday afternoon.

The Basics

• Final Score: Bridgewater 80, Catholic 75
• Records: Bridgewater 3-6, Catholic 7-2

How It Happened

• The Eagles used an early 12-3 run to take a 14-5 lead, but the Cardinals scored the next 10 points to retake the lead and held on to a 35-32 lead at the break
• Catholic pulled ahead to a six-point advantage with just under 14 minutes left in the second half before a Rashod Smith layup and a pair of Andy Pack free throws lowered the deficit to two points
• The game remained close as each side alternated scores until a three-pointer from Smith tied the game at 55-55 with nine minutes left in regulation
• The Cardinals edged out in front by six after Jesse Hafemeister hit one of his game-high six threes to force a Bridgewater timeout
• BC remained close as the two sides alternated baskets again until a pair of Liam Caswell free throws tied the contest at 68-68 with four minutes left to play
• A three-point play from Smith pushed the Eagles ahead for the first time since midway through the first half 
• After another three from Hafemeister, who finished with a game high 32 points, Aaron Oates hit a layup to give the Eagles the lead for good with under two mintues to play leading to the 80-75 final

Match Notes

• All five starters for the Eagles tallied double-digits in points as the team shot 41.9 percent from the field, including shooting at nearly a 50 percent clip in the second half
• Oates led the Eagles with 21 points and 13 rebounds to register his first collegiate double-double
• Smith finished with 18 points, five rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals 
• Zach Hatter finished 5-of-8 from the floor and a perfect 5-of-5 from the line to record 16 points to go with three rebounds and a steal
• Caswell registered 12 points and four rebounds, while Pack tallied 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists

Up Next

• The Eagles return to the court in less than one week's time as they travel to Bethany on Friday, Dec. 17, beginning at 3:00 p.m.