Colby-Sawyer trailed by 15 with 14:30 to play, but used a 10-0 run with under five minutes to play to close in on Bowdoin. Scott Butterworth cut the lead to three, 66-63, with a three-pointer with a minute remaining, but the Chargers missed a pair of potential game-tying shots with under 30 seconds left before the Polar Bears sealed the game at the free-throw line.
The Chargers (2-2) were paced by Pat Kenny's 15 points, while Andrew St. Clair added 13 points and 11 rebounds. Butterworth was the third player in double-figures for the Chargers with 10 points off the bench.
Andrew Hippert and Kevin Bradley led the Polar Bears with 15 points each. Kyle Petrie added 12 points and Jordan Fliegel had 11 points for Bowdoin, which improves to 5-1 on the year.
Colby-Sawyer opens Commonwealth Coast Conference play on Saturday, hosting Nichols in a 1 p.m. contest in New London.