LEWISTON – Police said they broke up a noisy party at Morgan McDuffee’s apartment just two hours before the Bates College senior was stabbed to death in a street brawl last week.

Lewiston police officers often were called to McDuffee’s Main Street address after neighbors complained about loud noise and partying, police spokesman Michael McGonagle said.

McDuffee, a 22-year-old Bates lacrosse team captain, was slain during a confrontation between groups of Bates students and local youths who were on their way to a party early March 3.

Brandon Thongsavanh, 19, of Lewiston was being held without bail during the weekend in the Androscoggin County Jail in Auburn on a charge of murdering McDuffee.

Two hours before the killing, police were called to McDuffee’s apartment in response to complaints of a loud party. The renters “were advised to keep their guests quiet or break up the party,” McGonagle said.

The party at 494 Main St. broke up later, and McDuffee and his friends left the apartment, police said. They were returning to the home about 2:30 a.m. when they encountered the second group of youths.

Lewiston police said they have responded to 120 complaints of loud noise and partying at houses and apartments rented by Bates students since the beginning of the school year.

An estimated 80 percent of the calls involve alcohol-related issues, such as excessive noise by students walking through residential neighborhoods from one party to another, sometimes tramping over private property.

The college enacted policies in the fall of 2000 to try to address neighbors’ growing concern and anger over rowdy and drunken students.

Bates security officers began regular patrols of the neighborhood surrounding the college and residents were advised to call the Lewiston police before calling campus security.