BRUNSWICK

The Bowdoin College men’s basketball team closed the game on a 14-5 run to defeat Anna Maria on Wednesday afternoon at Morrell Gymnasium, 69-59.

The Polar Bears moved to 6-3 this season, while the AMCats fell to 2-7.

Bowdoin never trailed after the opening minutes, but had trouble putting Anna Maria away until late in the second half. The Polar Bears led by as many as 11 points in the opening half, and hit 4-of-7 treys in the first stanza to take a 33-24 edge at intermission.

Bowdoin opened the second half on an 8-3 run to take its largest lead of the game, 41-27, with 16:30 to go.

The Polar Bears maintained a comfortable lead, 53-42, with under nine minutes to play before Anna Maria made a late surge to get back into the contest. David Jean-Louis hit a pair of 3-pointers to spark a 13-2 Anna Maria run, and the AMCats drew even, 55-55 on a Tanner Jakola 3-pointer with 5:46 to go.

Jack Simonds answered with a trey for the Polar Bears, and Bowdoin hit four straight free throws to create some distance.

Bowdoin’s defense tightened up, holding Anna Maria scoreless for a crucial 3: 23 span down the stretch and the Polar Bears put the game on ice with a steal and fast-break layup from Tim Ahn, followed by a 3-pointer from Simonds to take a 10-point lead with a minute to go.

Simonds scored 10 of his team-high 15 points in the second half while also grabbing seven rebounds. Hugh O’Neil finished with 13 points, nine boards and three steals, while David Reynolds pitched in 13 points off the bench. Tim Ahn had eight points and seven assists in the victory for Bowdoin.

Jean- Louis scored 23 points, including five treys, for Anna Maria, which also got 14 points and six boards from Kenneth Graham. Mike Rapoza had a game- high 12 rebounds.

Rebounds were 36 apiece, but Bowdoin scored 12 points off 13 Anna Maria turnovers while committing just seven in the game.

Bowdoin will close out 2016 with a road game at Saint Joseph’s on Friday at 7 p.m.