ST. MARY'S CITY, Md. - The Bridgewater College men's basketball got in the win column in a big way with a 83-61 win over St. Mary's (Md.) on Friday.
 
The Basics 
 
Final Score: Bridgewater 83, St. Mary's 61
Records: Bridgewater 1-1; St. Mary's (Md.) 0-2
 
How it Happened 

• Both teams traded turnovers to start the game before Aaron Oates got a steal and went coast to coast to put BC ahead two minutes in. After a SMC timeout BC extended the lead on the back of Jordan Cooper. The rookie knocked down a jumper and then a three-pointer to make it 7-0 before St. Mary's finally got on the board at the five-minute mark. The Eagles continued to push the pace opening the game on a 15-5 run. SMC got their feet under themselves and close the game back to within two possessions but a jumper from Alec Topper and a Taylor Fincham layup forced a Saint Mary's timeout midway through the opening half with BC up 19-10.
• Out of the timeout both teams struggled for a few trips to get the offense going. Both teams traded makes before a second effort by Oates and a Jordan Cooper jam gave BC another double-digit lead at 28-15. SMC responded with a long ball, but Cooper found Landon Hawes open from long range as well to keep the offense rolling. BC finished the half on a 14-7 run after the Hawes make behind four from Will Dunlap and makes at the charity stripe by Cooper and Khalil Ward to make it 42-25 at the break.
• The second half started with makes on the first three trips down the floor as Woody Machado and Topper fueled the start for BC and an assist by Machado on an Oates score pushed the lead out to 21. SMC responded with a six-point spirt of their own before a jumper from Topper stopped the Seahawks' momentum. St. Mary's did not fade despite the deterrence. SMC pulled to within 12 after a Hollique Johnson and-one, but a free throw from Hawes and a jumper from Ward got the Eagles churning once more, up 58-43 midway through the second.
• After the old-fashioned three-point play BC held the Seahawks without a field goal for three and a half minutes but fouls shots kept the Seahwaks within striking distance. SMC remained around a 13-point deficit before an 8-0 BC run blew the game open capped off by a RK Law jumper off the pass of Topper. St. Mary's was held without a field goal for nearly four minutes during the span as BC closed the game on a 20-11 spirt to take it 83-61.

 
Match Notes 

• Cooper crossed double figures for the second straight game as he led all scorers with 20. Hawes added 16 while Topper and Oates each crossed into double figures as well.
• Topper registered his second double-double in as many games to open the season as the Monroe, N.C. native added 12 rebounds to go along with 15 points.
• The free throw line proved to be a separating stat between the two squads. Bridgewater was 19-for-26 at the stripe for a 73.1% mark, while St. Mary's struggled shooting 14-of-30 at the line.
• The Eagles defense stepped up in the second game of the season as they dominated the defensive glass in a game a season ago where one Seahawk grabbed 10 offensive rebounds alone.

Up Next 
 
The Eagles come home for their first game inside of Nininger Hall in the campaign as Washington and Lee visits in an early season ODAC matchup on Tuesday at 7 p.m.