Bates (19-2) also matched last season's school record for wins in a season, and extended its school-record winning streak to 16 games.
The Panthers (13-7) came back from a 29-15 deficit midway through the first half to cut Bates' lead to 31-26 at halftime. But Wholey scored all 10 of Bates' points on a 10-2 spurt in the first two minutes of the second half, with a pair of 3-pointers, a jumper and a layup off of his own steal.
The Panthers called timeout and came out of the huddle to set up Mike Sullivan with a 3-pointer, and a Kevin Boutilier jumper closed the gap to 41-33.
But that was as close as the Panthers would get again, as a pair of hoops by Zak Ray, another three by Wholey and a three by Pat Halloran pushed Bates to a 51-35 lead.
Ray assisted on a pair of fast-break layups to Stockwell and Cahill near the five-minute mark to extend the Bobcats' lead to 66-46 and ice the win.
Boutilier led Plymouth State with 16 points on 8-of-13 shooting, and he grabbed six rebounds. Mike Walcek added 10 points.
Cahill scored 14 points, including 11 in the first half. Pat Halloran scored 13 points. The Bobcats received only nine points combined from their top two scorers, Ray (4 points) and Stockwell (5). But Ray dished out a game-high nine assists and made three steals, while Stockwell had a game-high eight rebounds.
Bates forced 24 turnovers, leading to 32 points.
Bates plays at NESCAC rival Tufts University on Saturday at 3 p.m.
BATES COLLEGE 78, Plymouth State 55 Plymouth State (13-7) Kevin Boutilier 8-13 0-0 16; Mike Walcek 4-8 2-2 10; Mark Dunham 2-5 0-0 6; Devin Ruocco 2-6 0-0 5; Brandon Boggs 2-8 0-2 4; Mike Sullivan 1-2 0-0 3; Tim Russell 1-1 0-0 3; Phil Bourassa 1-4 0-0 2; John Belcher 1-3 0-0 2; Sean Hanlon 1-1 0-0 2; Ben Huntington 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-52 4-8 55. BATES COLLEGE (19-2) Bryan Wholey 7-12 6-6 24; Sean Cahill 5-8 1-1 14; Pat Halloran 3-9 5-5 13; Matt Chudomel 2-3 2-2 6; Rob Stockwell 2-8 1-2 5; Zak Ray 2-7 0-0 4; John Lattimer 2-3 0-0 4; Damon McGinn 0-2 2-2 2; Sam Taylor 0-1 2-2 2; Anthony Begon 1-1 0-0 2; Thomas Kothe 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 25-55 19-20 78. PSU........................... 26 29 - 55 Bates College................. 31 47 - 78 3-point goals-PSU 5-18 (Mark Dunham 2-4; Devin Ruocco 1-4; Tim Russell 1-1; Mike Sullivan 1-2; John Belcher 0-1; Phil Bourassa 0-1; Brandon Boggs 0-3; Mike Walcek 0-2), Bates College 9-21 (Bryan Wholey 4-6; Sean Cahill 3-6; Pat Halloran 2-5; Zak Ray 0-2; Rob Stockwell 0-2). Fouled out--PSU-None, Bates College-None. Rebounds-PSU 30 (Brandon Boggs 6; Kevin Boutilier 6), Bates College 30 (Rob Stockwell 8). Assists