BABSON PARK, Mass.—Senior Graham Safford (Hampden, Maine) scored 21 of 23 points in the second half, including the go-ahead three pointer with 1.8 seconds to go, as visiting Bates College knocked off 23rd-ranked Babson College, 54-51, to win the 29th Babson Invitational Tournament championship on Sunday night at Staake Gymnasium.

With the victory, Bates improves to 2-0 on the year, while Babson drops to 1-1.

Safford, who garnered tournament MVP honors, went 8-for-10 from the field after halftime and buried four three pointers. Junior Mike Boornazian (Portland, Conn.) added 14 points and seven boards for the Bobcats.

Senior John Wickey (Manchester, N.H.) led all players with a season-high 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting. Sophomore Sam Bohmiller (Franklin, Mass.) came off the bench to score eight points, and classmate Joey Flannery (Acton, Mass.) added seven points and game highs of nine rebounds and four assists.

Bates scored the first six points of the game, but the Green and White countered with a 14-0 run, capped by a three-point play by Wickey, to go ahead 14-6 at the 12:27 mark. Wickey followed a Bohmiller three pointer with a tip in and a jumper to give the Beavers their biggest lead of the night at 26-13 with 4:32 to play in the first half.

Leading 28-18 to start the second half, Babson was held scoreless over the first 6:16 of the period before a triple by Wickey made it 31-22.  Back-to-back hoops by Safford and Boornazian cut the deficit to 36-33 with 9:11 to go, and five straight points by Safford got the Bobcats within a point at 44-43 with 5:16 to play. The Beavers missed a layup on their next possession, and Saffard buried a three pointer to give Bates its first lead since the early moments of the game.

Another hoop by Safford gave Bates a 48-45 lead before two free throws from Flannery and a jumper by Wickey put the Green and White back in front 49-48 with 2:47 remaining. After empty trips for both teams, sophomore Marcus Delpeche (Wilmington, Del.) tipped in a Boornazian miss and was fouled, knocking down the free throw to give the Bobcats a 51-49 edge with 1:43 to go. Babson senior David Mack (Holden, Mass.) then tied it with a layup two possessions later with 32 ticks left.

With Bates holding for the final shot, Safford broke down a defender from just inside of half court and then calmly buried a three pointer for the win. After a timeout, the Beavers could only muster a halfcourt heave to tie the game that was well off the mark.

The Bobcats shot 44.7 percent (21-for-47) on the night, while Babson shot just 40 percent (20-for-50). The Green and White also held a slim 32-29 edge on the glass but was outscored 26-16 in the paint.

Babson returns to action on Tuesday when it hosts Lasell College at 7 p.m., while Bates travels to Husson University on Saturday at 1 p.m.

GAME NOTES: Babson is now 12-11 all-time against Bates but has dropped two consecutive meetings in the series...the Beavers are now 46-12 all-time in the Babson Invitational Tournament and are 17-8 in 25 championship game appearances...Babson had won seven consecutive games and three straight BIT titles prior to Sunday's loss going back to 2008.