Decades in the making, the first NCAA Division III men’s basketball tournament appearance for Bates College continues for at least another day.

Bates recovered from a slow start Friday night and rolled to a 92-80 first-round victory over St. Vincent College at Stockton Sports Center in Galloway, N.J.

Senior guard Graham Safford of Hampden was sensational with 30 points and 10 rebounds for the Bobcats. Mike Boornazian added 22 points on 9-for-13 shooting.

Bates (20-6) will face the winner of Friday’s late game between host Stockton and Endicott in the second round Saturday.

All five Bobcats starters played pivotal roles in the win. Marcus Delpeche chipped in 14 points. Billy Selmon added eight, including the basket that put the Bobcats ahead to stay in the first half. Malcolm Delpeche ripped down a game-high 16 rebounds.

Rumford’s Cam Kaubris hit both of his field goal tries for four points.

Sean Kett led the Bearcats (22-7) with 25 points and eight assists. Jaylon Bell added 16 points, J.C. Howard 14 and Pat Jones 12 for St. Vincent of Latrobe, Pa.

St. Vincent jumped out to an 8-2 lead with 15:05 remaining in the first half on the strength of 3-pointers by Howard and Ben Klimchock.

Safford sank two free throws to start the first of two substantial Bates runs. Boornazian’s tip-in preceded two more from the line by Safford.

Selmon’s layup put Bates on top, 10-9, with 11:36 to go. Kaubris and Marcus Delpeche added layups, via Malcolm Delpeche, before Selmon scored again to punctuate a 14-1 surge.

It was 35-25 at the half, and St. Vincent stayed within eight points before Bates bolted away with a 15-1 flourish. Safford, Boornazian and Adam Philpott each drained a 3-pointer. Boornazian had seven points during the run.

Bates was 7-for-16 from beyond the 3-point arc and shot 52.5 percent from the field overall. The Bobcats held the Bearcats to 40 percent and owned a 42-31 advantage on the glass.