Box Score
MEDFORD – The #6 Amherst College Lord Jeffs beat the Tufts University Jumbos, 75-67, in NESCAC men's basketball action on Friday night at Cousens Gym.
Amherst improves to 12-2 overall and 3-0 in the NESCAC while Tufts falls to 7-7 (0-2).
The Jumbos scored the first five points of the game, a three-pointer by sophomore guard Stephen Haladyna (South Hamilton, MA) and a dunk from first-year center Hunter Sabety (Oceanside, NY). The Lord Jeffs answered back with a 6-0 run and took their first lead after a layup by senior guard David Kalema (Burke, VA).
Amherst built an eight-point advantage at the 11:11 mark after a three-point play by sophomore forward Connor Green (Bedford, NH). The largest lead of the first half for the Lord Jeff was 11 at 25-14 with 8:19 remaining.
Tufts closed to within five on a three-pointer by junior guard Ben Ferris (Essex Junction, VT) at the 2:08 mark before Amherst went into the halftime locker room with a 33-26 lead.
The Jumbos hung around in the second half and eventually tied the game at 45-45 with 10:54 remaining. Sabety had six points during the stretch including a dunk to tie the score. Amherst was able to jump back out by five keyed by three free throws from senior guard Aaron Toomey (Greensboro, NC).
Amherst stretched the lead back to 11, 62-51, with 5:12 to play. Toomey scored another seven points during the run. Seven would be the closest the Jumbos would get the rest of the night. Toomey went 8-for-8 from the charity stripe in the final minutes to seal the Lord Jeff victory.
Toomey finished with a game-high 28 points and was 17 for 18 from the free throw line. HE became Amherst's all-time leading scorer during the game. Senior guard Tom Killian (Summit, NJ) added 15 points and nine rebounds. Green and Kalema scored 13 and 10 respectively.
Tufts had four double-digit scorers led by Sabety's 18 points. He also had eight rebounds and five blocked shots. Haladyna scored 17 points, going 5 of 9 from the field and 2 for 4 from three-point range. Ferris and senior guard Kwame Firempong (Los Angeles, CA) each scored 12 points.
Tufts out-shot Amherst, 43.3% (26/60) to 40% (20/50). The Lord Jeffs sparkled from the free-throw line, finishing 31 of 35 as a team.
Tufts is back at Cousens Gym on Saturday afternoon for a 4 pm contest against Trinity. Amherst travels to Bates for a 4 pm game on Saturday.
Game Photos by Kelvin Ma / Tufts
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