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BASKETBALL FINAL SCORE
Tufts 69, Amherst 68
At Medford, MA
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Game
Statistics
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Senior Tom Selby was
one of six Jumbos saluted on Seniors Day Saturday
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MEDFORD -- After four straight close losses, the Tufts
University men's basketball team broke the string on Saturday
afternoon. In comeback fashion, the Jumbos squeaked out a 69-68
victory over the Amherst College Lord Jeffs in NESCAC action at
Cousens Gymnasium.
The first half of the game saw eight ties as the action went
back-and-forth. Amherst took control late in the half to hold a
five-point advantage entering the break, 43-38. The Lord Jeffs shot
65.4-percent (17/26) from the field and were five-for-eight from
three-point range. Senior tri-captain Jon Pierce
(Belmont, MA), one of six Jumbos playing on Seniors Day at
Cousens, kept the hosts in it with 15 first-half points.
Amherst extended the lead to as many as 10 points (53-43) with
13:46 to go, but at that point the Jumbos began their quest back.
Senior Dave Beyel
(Ocean City, NJ) tied it up at 61-61 with a lay-up and
finished the three-point play at the foul line with 4:34 left.
Beyel totaled a game-high 23 points on nine of 13 shooting.
The Lord Jeffs were able to regain the lead and push it back up
to five points (66-61) with 2:58 remaining. However, with Amherst
holding a 68-64 lead, Tufts freshman Scott
Anderson (Sudbury, MA) scored a bucket and was fouled
with 1:14 to go. He completed the three-point play to get the
Jumbos within one at 68-67. On the other side of the floor, Jumbo
junior Matt Galvin
(Floral Park, NY) forced a turnover and after a timeout on
the ensuing Tufts possession, Pierce scored the go-ahead bucket
with just 34 seconds left in regulation.
Amherst had a couple of chances to take the lead in the waning
moments, but Pierce came through with a key block and the Jumbos
hung on for the 69-68 win. Pierce ended the game with 22 points and
five blocks. Anderson also finished in double-figures for the
Jumbos with 15.
Sophomore Jeff Holmes (Saundertown, RI) scored a team-high 16
for the Lord Jeffs in the losing effort, while first-year Allen
Williamson (Saugus, MA) added 14 off the bench. Tufts held Amherst
to just 40.9-percent (9/22) from the field in the second half.
The victory ends an eight-game Jumbo losing streak against the
Lord Jeffs, dating back to the 2003-04 season. Tufts improves to
2-6 in the NESCAC and 6-16 overall. They finish out the regular
season on Saturday afternoon at Bates in a 4 pm start.
Amherst (14-7, 3-4 NESCAC) lost for the fourth time in five
games. They play at Brandeis on Tuesday night (Feb. 9) with a 7 pm
start.
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